TRANSAMINASE ACTIVITY IN RUMEN LIQUOR OF SHEEP

1. The presence of transaminase activity in rumen contents has been demonstrated. The level of activity varied with time after feeding and was influenced by the nature of the diet. 2. Rumen contents from a sheep given a diet containing casein showed greater transaminase activity at 2 h than at 6 h after feeding. Conversely, with a diet containing urea and maize, the activity was higher at 6 h than at 2 h after feeding. 3. The greater part of the transaminase activity of rumen liquor was associated with the fraction containing protozoa and food residues while the cell-free fraction contained no transaminase activity under the experimental conditions. © 1968, The Nutrition Society. All rights reserved.