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Technique for Quantitative Collection of Bovine Saliva

Department of Dairy Science, Auburn University Agricultural Experiment Station Auburn, Alabama

ABSTRACT

The significance of saliva flow in relation to hunger and appetite has been of concern for many years. Pavlov (9) did extensive research on conditioned reflex action of dogs and factors influencing saliva flow. Other workers (8, 11) studied certain factors influencing composition of human saliva.

However, factors affecting saliva flow in ruminants are different from those in nonruminants. Ruminant saliva flow is affected very little, if any, by conditioned reflex or psychic stimulation (6). However, there is reason to believe that a better understanding of rate of saliva flow, as well as composition, will contribute to a clearer knowledge of rumen digestion and feed intake peculiarities of cattle and may help reveal the secrets of bloat. Kansas researchers (12) noted that cattle with watery rumen contents did not bloat as readily as those with drier rumen contents. Rate of salivary secretion was the main factor affecting the consistency of rumen contents.