Effects of Food Intake on Numbers of Salmonellae and Escherichia coli in Rumen and Faeces of Sheep

When 10 7 –10 8 Salmonella anatum or Salm. typhimurium were inoculated into the rumen of sheep consuming 1·3 kg of lucerne chaff daily, salmonellae were eliminated from the rumen in 2 days, and could not be detected in the faeces after c. 1 week. During starvation, both Escherichia coli and salmonellae grew in the rumen. Resumption of feeding after starvation for 3 days caused further multiplication of E. coli and salmonellae in the rumen. The organisms were subsequently eliminated with further feeding. Inoculation with as few as 400 salmonellae cells into a starved sheep led to large numbers of salmonellae appearing in the faeces and being excreted in varying numbers for at least 5 weeks after resumption of feeding.