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Influence of Varying Rumen Temperature on Central Cooling or Warming and on Regulation of Voluntary Feed Intake in Dairy Cattle¹

Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

ABSTRACT

Four experiments were conducted with rumen-fistulated Holstein heifers to study the effect of slightly lowering or increasing rumen temperature on tympanic and rectal temperature and on voluntary feed intake. Hourly infusions of cold (5 C) or warm (49 C) water effected slight changes in rectal and tympanic temperature when compared to a control (30 C) infusion. Rumen temperature was altered but quickly returned to normal. No significant effect on hay intake was observed. When the infusion rate was increased to every half-hour, a more marked change in rectal and tympanic temperature was observed and the rumen temperature remained altered for a longer period of time. Compared to a control (30 C) treatment, infusions of cold (5 C) water increased (P < 0.01) consumption of an all pellet diet by 24% while a warm (49 C) infusion depressed intake by 9% (non-significant). The data suggest that under physiological conditions, a decline in central or body temperature could be an important signal for controlling feed consumption in ruminants.

¹ This project was supported in part by a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture CSRS No. 427-15-17.