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In Vivo Studies of Hydrogen Ion Concentrations in the Rumen of the Dairy Cow

Department of Dairy Husbandry, Oregon State College

ABSTRACT

The rumen of herbivorous animals plays an essential and important role in the digestive process although no digestive juices are secreted in the rumen. Moisture, body heat, and rumen motility provide an excellent environment for the fermentation and maceration of the coarse, bulky, and fibrous material that constitutes the major portion of the herbivore 's diet. Cellulose, the main constituent of the crude fiber of plant foods, is utilized by herbivorous animals. Dukes (2) states that bacteria are the chief agencies involved in Cellulose digestion and suggests that bacteria ferment cellulose to glucose. For optimal bacterial activity, the hydrogen ion concentration needs to be within a certain range. With possible acid production from carbohydrate fermentation, the pH of rumen ingesta should be influenced by types of feed consumed, which in turn may have a regulatory action on bacterial activity.

Kick and co-workers (3) reported studies with steers on the pH of rumen ingesta. Their determinations varied with rations fed from pH 5.5 to 7.7 with the most alkaline reaction on alfalfa hay alone.

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