Lab 8: Ruminal Fluid Flashcards
How to obtain ruminal fluid?
- by orogastric tube
- by ruminal puncture
what tubes are not allowed in a orogastric sample taking?
ones with internal diameters of less than 1.5cm
- they may become obstructed with ingesta
How do we confirm that the tube is in the rumen?
Using auscultation of the abdomen as ait is simultaneously blown into the tube.
Why should the initial fluid portion be discarded?
it often contains an excessive amount of saliva
- this elevates pH level in saliva
Where is a ruminal puncture sample taken?
The site is marked by the horizontal line level with the top of the patella about 15 to 20 cm posterior to the last rib.
How must ruminal fluid be transported for long distance?
in double jacket container.
What is the latest was can estimate the ammonia or chloride conc?
can be delayed up to 9 hrs in room temperature and up to 24 hrs in refrigerator
What influences the ruminal fluid composition?
composition of the diet, the circumstances of the feeding and sampling, and the time interval from feeding or drinking
When should samples be taken?
at least 4-6 hours from the feeding, and the animals should not drink before the sampling.
- food will increase fermentation
- water will dilute the sample, decrease temp
What do we physically examine in ruminal fluid?
- odour
- colour
- consistency
- sedimentation time or sedimentation/floatation test
Physical Examination:
Odour
Normal vs abnormal
Normal:
-Aromatic odour
Abnormal:
- Ammonia smell (urea poisoning)
- Mouldy rotting (protein putrefaction)
- Acidic or sour odour (excess lactic acid/grain overfeeding)
Physical Examination:
Colour
Normal:
Olive to brownish green (hay ration)
Deeper green color (green ration)
Yellowish brown color (grain or silage ration)
Abnormal:
Milky grey (grain overfeeding, lactic acidosis)
Darker greenish or brownish (ruminal stasis/decomposition)
Grey with clots of milk (calves with abomasal reflux)
Physical Examination:
Colour
- Milky gray
grain over feeding, lactic acidosis
Physical Examination:
Colour
darker greenish or brownish
ruminal stasis/decomposition
Physical Examination:
Colour:
Grey with clots of milk
Calves with abomasal reflex
Physical Examination:
Consistency
Normal?
slightly vicous
Physical Examination:
Consistency:
Increased viscosity?
saliva contamination
Physical Examination:
Consistency:
Decreased viscosity, watery with few feed particles
inactive bacteria or protozoa
Physical Examination:
Consistency:
Excess frothy, stable bubbles
frothy bloat/vagus indigestion
Physical Examination:
Sedimentation time:
How do we perform this test?
Allow fluid to sit in a test tube and determine the time for complete sedimentation and flotation of solid particles. Smaller particles sink, larger particles float on the bubbles of fermentation.
Physical Examination:
Sedimentation time:
normal range?
The normal range is 4–8 minutes
Physical Examination:
Sedimentation time:
What does active fluid show?
may exhibit sedimentation of fine particles with subsequent flotation
Physical Examination:
Sedimentation time:
What does inactive fluid show?
rapid sedimentation with little to no flotation, due to a lack of
fermentative gases
- rumen acidosis, prolonged anorexia (????)
Physical Examination:
Sedimentation time:
What does stable froth bloat show?
indicates frothy bloat or some types of vagal indigestions in the Hoflund disease (stenosis, hypermotility)
or in the case of treatment with
sympathomimetics (acetylcholine) used for the treatment of ruminal atonia.
Biochemical examination:
What do we examine?
- pH
- VFA
- reducing ability of anaerobic rumen flora
- Ruminal flora and fauna
- Ruminal fluid chloride