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Response of Steers to Two Levels of Saliva Added Intraruminally

Department of Dairy Science, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama

ABSTRACT

Steers weighing 462 to 490 kg with parotid and rumen fistulas were used to evaluate metabolic effects of substituting NaHCO_s (150 meq/liter) solution for saliva, volume for volume, and of adding supplemental saliva to rumen of dairy cattle during 14-day periods. Steers on all treatments received the same ration with allowances divided equally between 6 AM and 6 PM feedings.

Supplemental saliva increased saliva dry matter (P < 0.10) but did not have a consistent effect on Na and K concentrations of saliva.

Although feed intakes by steers were similar for all treatments, supplemental saliva added intraruminally reduced total volatile fatty acid concentration in rumen liquor to 81.3 meq/liter compared to 115.8 for controls and 111.2 for the NaHCO_s substitution (P < 0.05). Differences associated with supplemental saliva persisted after corrections for dilution. Differences in volatile fatty acid concentrations in rumen liquor were evident at the 24 hourly collections on the 14th day. The volatile fatty acids from steers on all treatments showed the same general trend, i.e., the acids were lowest immediately before eating, peaked 4 to 6 hr after eating, then declined until the next meal. Mean 24-hr pH values for rumen fluid from Controls, NaHCO_s substituted, and saliva supplemented steers were 6.57, 6.51, and 6.98, respectively.