Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-p9bg8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T02:34:22.845Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Some effects of potassium chlorate administration on in vitro and in vivo rumen fermentation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

T. N. Barry
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Biochemistry, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
F. J. Harte
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Biochemistry, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
B. N. Perry
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Biochemistry, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
D. G. Armstrong
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Biochemistry, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Summary

Hay was fed to an in vitro continuous culture of the rumen microbial population and to sheep kept in metabolism cages, and the effects of potassium chlorate addition on the rumen fermentation were studied. The compound was given for 8 days in vitro and for either 3 or 8 days in vivo.

Potassium chlorate addition in vitro (13·7 mg/g hay D.M.) depressed the production of CH4 and acetate, had little effect on propionate production and caused a small increase in the production of n-butyrate and n-valerate. The treatment also depressed cellulose digestion and the concentration of DNA in fermentor liquor, but increased the CO2:CH4 ratio in fermentor gas.

When given in vivo for 8 days at 6·7 mg/g hay D.M., potassium chlorate progressively depressed total VFA concentration in rumen fluid, had no effect on VFA molar proportions but caused a small increase in the CO2:CH4 ratio in rumen gas. When administered in vivo for 3 days at 14·4–15·3 mg/g hay D.M. the treatment increased the molar proportions of propionate and depressed those of acetate in rumen fluid without affecting total VFA concentration. There were considerable differences between animals in propionate response, and the maximum responses were generally obtained 2–5 days after dosing had ceased. Potassium chlorate addition also caused a temporary reduction in appetite with some sheep.

It was concluded that potassium chlorate was toxic to the rumen microbial population when given for 8 days, but that large doses given over 3 days could be used to increase the ratio of propionic acid relative to acetic and butyric acids produced from the rumen fermentation.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

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

Armstrong, D. G. (1965). Carbohydrate metabolism in ruminants and energy supply. In Physiology of Digestion in the Ruminant. Proceedings of Second International Symposium on Ruminant Physiology (ed. Dougherty, R. W.), pp. 272–88. Washington: Butterworths.Google Scholar
Barry, T. N., Thompson, A. & Armstrong, D. G. (1977 a). Rumen fermentation studies on two contrasting diets. 1. Some characteristics of the in vivo rumen fermentation, with particular reference to the composition of the gas phase, oxidation/reduction state and volatile fatty acid proportions. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 89, 183–95.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barry, T. N., Thompson, A. & Armstrong, D. G. (1977 b). Rumen fermentation studies on two contrasting diets. 2. A comparison of the performance of an in vitro continuous-culture fermentation with the in vivo fermentation. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 89, 197208.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blackburn, P. S., Castle, M. E. & Drysdale, A. D. (1959). Treatment of ketosis in dairy cows by potassium chlorate. The Veterinary Record 71, 665–6.Google Scholar
Blackburn, P. S., Castle, M. E., Drysdale, A. D. & Strachan, N. H. (1961). Potassium chlorate as a prophylactic treatment for subclinical ketosis. British Veterinary Journal 117, 491–6.Google Scholar
Good, F. D. (1958). Bovine ketosis (acetonaemia). The Veterinary Record 70, 1000–1.Google Scholar
Judson, G. J., Anderson, E., Luick, J. R. & Leng, R. A. (1968). The contribution of propionate to glucose synthesis in sheep given diets of different grain content. British Journal of Nutrition 22, 6975.Google Scholar
Krabill, L. F., Almassan, W. S. & Satter, L. D. (1969). Manipulation of the ruminal fermentation. II. Effect of sodium sulphite on bovine digestion and ruminal fermentation. Journal of Dairy Science 52, 1812–16.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leng, R. A. (1969). In Physiology of Digestion in the Ruminant. Proceedings of Third International Symposium on Ruminant Physiology (ed. Phillipson, A. T.), pp. 406–21. Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Oriel Press.Google Scholar
Potter, E. L., Cooley, C. O., Richardson, L. F., Raun, A. P. & Rathmacher, R. P. (1976). Effect of monensin on performance of cattle fed forage. Journal of Animal Science 43, 665–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Prins, R. A. (1970). Methanogenesis and propionate production in the rumen as influenced by therapeutics against ketosis. Zeitschrift für Tierphysiologie, Tierernährung und Futtermitlelkunde 26, 147–51.Google Scholar
Prins, R. A. & Seekles, L. (1968). Effect of chloral hydrate on rumen metabolism. Journal of Dairy Science 51, 882–7.Google Scholar
Richardson, L. F., Raun, A. P., Potter, E. L., Cooley, C. O. & Rathmacher, R. P. (1976). Effect of monensin on rumen fermentation in vitro and in vivo. Journal of Animal Science 43, 657–64.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smith, P. H. & Hungate, R. E. (1958). Isolation and characterisation of Methanobacterium ruminantium n.sp. Journal of Bacteriology 75, 713–18.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Talsma, D. (1952). Research and Theories on Post parturient Acetonaemia in Friesian Milch Cows. Leeuwarden, Netherlands: R. Van Der Velde.Google Scholar