Some Physical and Chemical Properties of Bovine Saliva which May Affect Rumen Digestion and Synthesis

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Abstract
The avg. water content of 36 specimens of saliva from dairy cows was 99.12%. The avg. pH of 54 samples protected by neutral paraffin oil from CO2 loss was 8.53, whereas the avg. pH for the unprotected samples was 8.71. No appreciable variation was noted in the pH of saliva collected at 6-hr. intervals over a 24-hr. period, and the time of collection relative to the feeding time had no apparent effect on the reaction of the saliva. The ascorbic acid concn. of 75 saliva samples averaged 0.15 mg.%, while the avg. plasma ascorbic acid level of the same animals was 0.47 mg.%, giving a correlation coeff. of +0.015. The deodorizing and surface active properties of cow''s saliva were demonstrated. The surface tension of 55 samples was 47.1 dynes per cm. at 29[degree]C, while typical adsorption curves were derived from the uptake of benzene by saliva. Since dried cow''s saliva took up benzene in a manner characteristic of absorption, it was believed that the adsorbent materials of saliva were altered in some way by drying, resulting in the loss of the adsorbing property.

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