Lab 7: Examination of ruminal fluid

Question 1

how to obtain ruminal fluid?

Answer 1

1. by orogastric tube

2. by ruminal puncture

Question 2

factors influencing composition of ruminal fluid?

Answer 2

• composition of the diet
• circumstances of feeding and sampling
• time interval from feeding or drinking

Question 3

physical examination of normal ruminal fluid?

Answer 3

odor
  - aroumatic odour 
colour 
   - olive to brownish (hay)
   - more green (forage diets)
   - more yellow brownish (grain or silage)
viscosity 
   - slightly viscous

Question 4

physical examination of abnormal ruminal fluid?

Answer 4

odour
- ammonia smell (urea poisoning)
- mouldy rotting smell (protein putrefaction)
- acidic or sour smell (excess lactic acid/ grain
overfeeding)
colour
- milky grey (grain overfeeding, lactic acidosis)
- dark green brownish (ruminal stasis/ ruminal
decomposition)
- grey with clots of milk (abomasal reflux in calves)
consistency
- highly viscous ( saliva contamination)
- decreased viscocity, watery with feed particles (inactive
bacteria or protozoa)
- excessive froth or stable bubbles (frothy bloat, vagus
indigestion)

Question 5

what does the sedimentation test show?

Answer 5

• the activity and degree of fermentation of the microorganisms in the rumen
• fine particles sediment rapidly
• large particles float on the bubbles from fermentation
• longer the sedimentation the better the fermentation
• stable froth indicates frothy bloat

Question 6

PH range of the rumen?

Answer 6

6.3-7

Question 7

normal range of sedimentation time?

Answer 7

4-8 minutes

Question 8

causes for rumen acidosis (PH 5.5 -6)?

Answer 8

• grain overfeeding

- chronic ruminal acidosis

Question 9

causes of rumen alkalosis?

Answer 9

• starvation
• increased urea production
• increased fibre digestion
• putrefaction of ruminal content due to prolonged ruminal stasis
• saliva contamination

Question 10

list the volatile fatty acids?

Answer 10

• acetic acid (60-65%)
• Proprionic acid (20-25%)
• butyric acid (10-15%)
• others (5%)

Question 11

tests for reducing ability of anaerobic ruminal flora?

Answer 11

• nirtite reduction test
• methylene blue reduction test
• TTC test

Question 12

Protozoa examinations?

Answer 12

• under the microscope 160-200 times magnification
• classified by size and motility
• can be affected by cold slide

Question 13

bacterial examinations?

Answer 13

• mostly gram negative under normal conditions
• anaerobic culture
  
  • giesma staining
  • PAS staining
  • Gram staining
• in the case of ruminal putrifaction clostridium and proetus etc are present in higher conc.

Question 14

fungi examinations?

Answer 14

• mostly yeasts
• carbohydrate digestion
• cultured
  
  • Giesma staining
  • PAS staining
• in the case of ruminal putrefaction may disappear completely

Question 15

measurement of ruminal ammonia?

Answer 15

• spectrophotometer or ion selective method
• difficult to measure as highly volatile
• should be measured immediately, or transported in a closed system between 0-2 oC

Question 16

meausrement of ruminal fluid chloride?

Answer 16

• in a healthy rumen chloride levels are low (15-20 mmol/l)
• main source is the saliva
• in the case of gastric torsion can rise (30-100mmol/l)
• spectrophotometer or ion selective method
• chloride conc. is relatively stable

Question 17

causes of elevated chloride levels?

Answer 17

• high salt intake
• obstruction of intestinal flow (ileus), pyloric stenosis
• abomasal disorders (inflammation, ulcer, hyperactivity)
• abomasal displacement