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Effect of Chloral Hydrate on Rumen Metabolism

Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry, Utrecht, Netherlands

ABSTRACT

A study was made of the influence of chloral hydrate on some rumen processes. Several oral therapeutics against ketosis decreased the digestion of cellulose by rumen microorganisms in vitro. Chloral hydrate was most effective in this respect. Several chloral hydrate derivatives were screened for their capacity to inhibit the fermentation of Solka-Floc BW-40 in vitro, to find promising compounds for possible control of ketosis.

Trichloroethanol and chloroform, being microbial degradation products of chloral hydrate, also decreased breakdown of cellulose. With natural feeds as substrates in vitro, production of propionic acid or lactic acid was stimulated by chloral hydrate. Feeding of 20 or 40 g of chloral hydrate to rumen-fistulated cows resulted in a marked drop in the redox potential in the rumen liquor of the treated animals. This decrease appeared to be associated with the accumulation of highly reduced substances within the microbial cells.

From the results it may be concluded that chloral hydrate selectively influences the over-all fermentation pattern in the rumen of normal cows.