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Cardiac Output in the Bovine and its Relationship to Rumen and Portal Volatile Fatty Acid Concentration¹

Departments of Dairy Science and Veterinary, Physiology and Pharmacology, Washington State University, Pullman

ABSTRACT

Radio-iodinated serum albumin (I¹³¹) or Evans blue dye (T-1824) was administered to four dairy animals in a series of 22 determinations of cardiac output. Two diurnal cardiac output studies were made on a Guernsey heifer at 0, 3, 6, and 9 hr post-feeding of second-cutting alfalfa hay. Portal flow rates were estimated from cardiac output data. Portal blood samples were taken from the Guernsey heifer and from a young Holstein bull and rumen samples were collected from a fistulated heifer hourly between 0 and 12 hr post-feeding of second-cutting alfalfa hay. Total volatile fatty acid concentration of rumen, and portal samples were determined. Cardiac output from all determinations averaged 42.6 liter/min, or 129.6 ml/min/kg. A mean portal flow rate of 40.2 ml/min/kg was estimated from the cardiac output data. A distinct pattern was observed in cardiac output and estimated portal flow rate during both diurnal cardiac output studies. Maximum estimated rate of blood flow in the portal vein occurred between 3 and 9 hr after feeding. Concentration of total volatile fatty acids in rumen samples taken from the fistulated heifer and in portal blood samples taken from the Guernsey heifer and Holstein bull were also maximal between 3 and 9 hr after feeding; hence, it can be postulated that greatest absorption of rumen volatile fatty acids occurred during this period. The present results tend to support published data which indicate that total concentration of volatile fatty acids in the rumen affect cardiac output and portal flow rate.

¹ Scientific Paper No. 2241, Washington Agricultural Experiment Station, Pullman. Project 1439.

² The data are from a thesis presented by the senior author to the graduate faculty of Washington State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree, June, 1962.