Bloat in Cattle. XV. The Relation of Viscosity and Cell-Free Polysaccharide Content of Rumen Fluid to Feedlot Bloat

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Abstract
Changes during the post-feeding period were determined for relative viscosity and polysaccharide concentration in cell-free rumen fluid of two rumen fistulated cows fed all-concentrate, followed by all-alfalfa hay rations. Polysaccharide concentration was defined by apparent glucose and rhamnose analyses. Relative viscosities and apparent glucose and rhamnose concentrations were significantly higher (P<.05) when the cows were fed concentrate only than when they were fed alfalfa hay only. The measurements also were significantly higher (P<.05) in the cow that consistently bloated severely on the all-concentrate ration than in the other cow. Relative viscosities between samples at various intervals post-feeding did not differ significantly (P<.05). Post-feeding patterns of concentration of apparent glucose and rhamnose in cell-free rumen fluid declined with time after feeding. Multiple regression analysis indicated as much as 67% of viscosity variation was associated with apparent rhamnose. Including apparent glucose concentration in relation to time after feeding did not significantly (P>.05) improve the estimate of relative viscosity, but including apparent glucose concentration improved the estimate of relative viscosity, made using the natural logarithm. The best estimate of apparent glucose and rhamnose concentrations included the natural logarithm of time after feeding. Feed factors apparently play predominant roles in post-feeding cell-free polysaccharide concentrations, but they did not explain the differences found in relative viscosities of rumen fluids. Copyright © 1971. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1971 by American Society of Animal Science.

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