An experiment was conducted to study the possibility of using marker concentration in faeces to estimate rumen outflow of Cr-treated protein supplements and the liquid phase (PEG). There were no significant differences in the outflow of each marker from the rumen when determined directly from rumen or indirectly from faeces, suggesting that faeces could be used to measure the outflow from the rumen without the need for surgical preparation of the animals. The outflow rate of the liquid phase was considerably faster than Cr-treated protein supplements.

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Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of the composition and particle size of the basal diet on the outflow of chromium-treated fish meal from the rumen of lactating British Friesian dairy cows, using Cr-concentrations in faeces. A 4 × 4 Latin square design was used and the cows were fed at twice the estimated energy requirements for maintenance in two equal meals.Fractional outflow rates per h were, 0·079, 0·088, 0·086 and 0·064 for the 1·00 hay: 0·00 concentrate, 0·75 hay: 0·25 concentrate, 0·50 hay: 0·50 concentrate and 0·25 hay: 0·75 concentrate respectively. The difference between 0·75 and 0·50 concentrate was significant (P < 0·05).Grinding of long dried grass through 40 or 20 mm screens had no significant effect on the outflow of Cr-treated fish meal from the rumen, however fine grinding (5 mm) and pelleting significantly reduced the outflow from rumen (P < 0·05). Fractional outflow rates per h were 0·080, 0·086, 0·088 and 0·047 for the long, 40, 20 mm and the 5 mm and pelleted diets respectively.

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An experiment was conducted at the faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences farm, University Contribution/ OriginalityThis study is one of very few studies which have investigated the nutritive value and dry matter yield of local sorghum varieties in Gadarif State, the most important region for sorghum production in Sudan. It contributes to the existing literature in the analysis of correlation between morphological traits and dry matter yield.