Effects of Slaframine on Ruminant Digestive Function: Liquid Turnover Rate and Fermentation Patterns in Sheep and Cattle

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Two trials were initiated to determine if slaframine (SF) can be used to alter fluid digesta flow and fermentation patterns in the rumen. In trial 1, a preliminary experiment, four Dorset × Barbados Black-belly ruminal-cannulated wethers (avg weight 41.6 ± 8.7 kg) given ad libitum access to a pelleted concentrate/hay diet were injected intramuscularly with 0, 12, 24 or 48 µg SF/kg body weight (BW) in a 4 × 4 Latin-square design. Ruminal fluid dilution rate was determined using a single intraruminal infusion of polyethylene glycol (7 g), followed by seven hourly ruminal fluid samples. The administration of 48 µg SF/kg BW increased (P<.10) ruminal volume and outflow by 27 and 25%, respectively, compared with controls. In trial 2, two Hereford and two Angus ruminal cannulated steers (avg weight 568 ± 93 kg) were injected with 0, 6, 12 or 24 µg SF/kg BW at 8-h intervals over a 24-h period in a 4 × 4 Latin-square design. Steers were fed a concentrate diet at twice maintenance in 24 equal portions daily. Ruminal fluid dilution was measured using a single intraruminal infusion of cobalt-ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (20 g) administered 9 h after the initial SF injection. Ruminal fluid was collected each hour during 8 to 24 h after the initial SF injection and analyzed for pH, osmolality and volatile fatty acids (VFA). For the 24 µg SF/kg BW treatment, ruminal fluid dilution rate (P<.16) and outflow (P<.04) were 26% greater, ruminal pH was .33 units higher (P<.05) and ruminal propionate concentration and molar proportion (mol/100 mol total VFA) were 36 and 26% lower (P<.05) than the control treatment. Saliva was estimated to contribute 50% more (P<.05) liquid to the ruminal fluid phase for the 24 µg/kg BW treatment than the control treatment. These studies demonstrate the potential for altering the physiological processes controlling ruminal environment and its dependent microbial fermentation using an exogenously administered sialagogue. Copyright © 1987. American Society of Animal Science. Copyright 1987 by American Society of Animal Science

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: