Feeding Value and Activity of Dried Rumen Products

In vitro experiments and two feeding and digestion trials with sheep were conducted to test the activity and feeding value of dried rumen products. In vitro digestion comparisons with fresh rumen fluid showed no replacement value or additive benefits for dried rumen products. In feeding and digestion trials, wether lambs were fed high and low-concentrate rations and also low-quality roughage rations containing 7.4 and 12.0% total protein. It appeared that dried rumen products had no stimulatory effect on rate of gain, feed efficiency, feed consumption or digestibility of major nutrients with any of the rations.