Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-dh8gc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-03T01:25:27.086Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A note on the effect of polyethylene particles on rumen metabolism of strees

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

J. Fordyce  and
M. Kay
J. Fordyce
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
M. Kay
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
Get access

Summary

Experiments were carried out to determine the effects of giving 1·36 kg of ‘RuffTabs’, polythene particles of dimension 1·27 × 0·63 × 0·95 cm3 (RT) to castrated male cattle (steers) given an all-concentrate diet, on the outflow of fluid from the rumen, on rumination and on the molar proportions of volatile fatty acids produced in the rumen.

RT reduced the flow of fluid from the rumen of steers, given a restricted amount of an all-concentrate diet, from 4·65 to 2·75% rumen volume/hr. RT had no effect on the total time spent daily in ruminating and eating. The molar proportions of volatile fatty acids were unaffected by RT in steers which were given the diet ad libitum but when RT was given to steers offered a restricted allowance of feed there was a highly significant (P < 0·001) reduction in acetic and an increase in butyric, valeric and caproic acids.

The feed intake of the steers was unaffected by RT.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 18 , Issue 1 , February 1974 , pp. 105 - 108
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1974

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Balch, D. A. and Rowland, S. J. 1957. Volatile fatty acids and lactic acid in the rumen of dairy cows receiving a variety of diets. Br. J. Nutr. 11: 288–298.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fell, B. F., Kay, M., Whitelaw, F. G. and Boyne, R. 1968. Observations on the development of ruminal lesions in calves fed on barley. Res. vet. Sci. 9: 458–466.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fordyce, J. and Kay, M. 1974. A note on the recovery of polyethylene particles from faeces and rumen contents of steers. Anim. Prod. 18: 101–104.Google Scholar
Freer, M. and Campling, R. C. 1965. Factors affecting the V.I. of food by cows. 7. The behaviour and reticular activity of cows given diets of hay, dried grass, concentrates and ground pelleted hay. Br. J. Nutr. 19: 195–207.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hyden, S. 1955. A turbidimetric method for the determination of higher polyethylene glycols in biological materials. K. LantbrHögsk. Annlr 22: 139–145.Google Scholar
Hyden, S. 1961. The use of reference substances and the measurement of flow in the alimentary tract. In Digestive Physiology and Nutrition of the Ruminant (ed. Lewis, D.), pp. 35–47. Butterworth, London.Google Scholar
McCullough, T. A. 1969. A study of factors affecting the voluntary intake of food by cattle. Anim. Prod. 11: 145–153.Google Scholar
Topps, J. H., Kay, R. N. B., Goodall, E. D., Whttelaw, F. G. and Reid, R. S. 1968. Digestion of concentrate and of hay diets in the stomach and intestines of ruminants. 2. Young steers. Br. J. Nutr. 22: 281–290.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed