Breakdown of Protein and Proteolytic Activity in the Sheep Rumen at Different Times after Feeding

SUMMARY: In sheep fed on a partially-‘defined’ diet the dietary protein was broken down in the rumen very rapidly after feeding. In conformity with this, the proteolytic activity of the rumen micro-organisms was relatively constant and comparatively high even before feeding. The number of proteolytic bacteria which were cultured from the rumen was relatively low at all times, although it increased after feeding.