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Journal of Experimental Biology 31,40-48 (1954)
Published by Company of Biologists 1954

The Passage of Starch Through the Stomach of the Sheep

R. A. WELLER ¹ and F. V. GRAY ²

¹ Division Biochemistry and General Nutrition of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, University of Adelaide, South Australia
² Division of Biochemistry and General Nutrition of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, University of Adelaide, South Australia

1. The greater part of the starch in the stomach of the sheep is present in the fluid portion of the contents, and a large proportion of it may be carried in the ciliate Protozoa of the rumen.

2. Starch/lignin ratios in the stomach contents suggest that there may be an extensive destruction of starch in the omasum, and this is strongly supported by the lowered concentrations of both starch and Protozoa in the omasal liquid.

3. A maximum of only 7.8 g. of starch was calculated to pass through the abomasum daily when the ration contained 148 g. starch. When 20-40 g. of starch were fed the quantity passing through was about one-tenth of the quantity ingested, and when the ration contained only 2.9 g. starch, 1.1 g. reached the abomasum.