The Influence of the Ash Content of the Rumen Ingesta on the Hydrogen Ion Concentration in the Bovine Rumen

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Abstract
A study has been made to determine the apparent correlation between the pH of the rumen and the fat, fatty acid and ash content of the ingesta from Korean lespedeza, Sericea lespedeza, and prairie hays at given intervals during rumen digestion. A significant positive correlation was found to exist between the ash content of the ingesta and the pH of the rumen. This relationship appears to be due to the buffering capacity of the ash which, together with the buffering action of the saliva, tends to keep the pH of the rumen contents within rather narrow limits.