The effect of pregnancy and fatness on the volume of rumen contents in the ewe

SUMMARY Twenty-seven ewes in various states of fatness, and either non-pregnant or between 72 and 144 days pregnant, were slaughtered and the volumes of digesta and abdominal organs were measured. There was a significant negative relationship between the volume of rumen contents and the volume of uterus plus abdominal fat plus other abdominal organs.