TABLE 1.

Shannon indices for methanogen clone libraries comprising rumen fluid samples from sheep before and after vaccination with a control or treatment formulation and also for sheep from other experiments^a

Clone library	Diet of sheep prior to sampling	Shannon index ± 95% CIc
Prevaccination (pool A)	Grazing of autumn pasture, followed by pelletized ration (67% oaten hay, 18% lupines, 10% barley) for 4 wk	1.76 ± 0.20*
Prevaccination (pool B)	Same as that for prevaccination (pool A) group	1.56 ± 0.19*
Prevaccination (pools A and B combined)	Same as that for prevaccination (pool A) group	1.70 ± 0.15*
Control (after second vaccination)	Pelletized ration (67% oaten hay, 18% lupines, 10% barley) for 19 wk	0.69 ± 0.27**
Treatment (after second vaccination)	Same as that for control sheep	1.38 ± 0.24*
WA expt 1b	Grazing of autumn and winter pastures	1.70 ± 0.12*
WA expt 2b	Mixed ration (67% oaten hay, 18% lupines, 10% barley) for 12 wk	0.76 ± 0.13**
WA expt 3b	Mixed ration (68% lucerne hay, 20% lupine grain, 10% molasses) for 6 wk	0.20 ± 0.14***

^aCalculations were made using DOTUR (13).

^bData taken from Wright et al. (29). WA, Western Australia.

^cValues marked by different numbers of asterisks are significantly different at minimum P values of <0.05.