title: Effects of slaframine on ruminant digestive function: liquid turnover rate and fermentation patterns in sheep and cattle.
abstract: Two trials were initiated to determine if slaframine (SF) can be used to alter fluid digesta flow and fermentation patterns in the rumen. In trial 1, a preliminary experiment, four Dorset X Barbados Black-belly ruminal-cannulated wethers (avg weight 41.6 8.7 kg) given ad libitum access to a pelleted concentrate/hay diet were injected intramuscularly with 0, 12, 24 or 48 micrograms SF/kg body weight (BW) in a 4 X 4 Latin-square design. Ruminal fluid dilution rate was determined using a single intraruminal infusion of polyethylene glycol (7 g), followed by seven hourly ruminal fluid samples. The administration of 48 micrograms SF/kg BW increased (P less than .10) ruminal volume and outflow by 27 and 25%, respectively, compared with controls. In trial 2, two Hereford and two Angus ruminal cannulated steers (avg weight 568 +/- 93 kg) were injected with 0, 6, 12 or 24 micrograms SF/kg BW at 8-h intervals over a 24-h period in a 4 X 4 Latin-square design. Steers were fed a concentrate diet at twice maintenance in 24 equal portions daily. Ruminal fluid dilution was measured using a single intraruminal infusion of cobalt-ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (20 g) administered 9 h after the initial SF injection. Ruminal fluid was collected each hour during 8 to 24 h after the initial SF injection and analyzed for pH, osmolality and volatile fatty acids (VFA).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D004063:Digestion / Q000187:drug effects*; D005285:Fermentation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D010277:Parasympathomimetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012417:Rumen / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D010277:Parasympathomimetics; C009275:slaframine