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Effects of Minerals of Formation of Color in the Rumen Epithelium of Kids

National Institute of Animal Industry, Chiba-shi, Japan

ABSTRACT

Dark-brownish color of the rumen epithelium of Japanese meat-type kids was controlled by purified rations based on the assumption that the mineral composition of the ration was responsible for the pigmentation. After several screening trials, iron in the purified ration (meal) was found to be most important. With 0.03% ferrous iron considerable pigmentation occurred, whereas with 0.003% none occurred. With 0.03% iron, darkening of the epithelium increased, if KHCO₃ in the ration was 4%, and NaHCO₃ decreased from 4.0 to 0.5%. Chopped hay in the rations increased pigmentation. Darkness of epithelium color was not directly related to tissue iron. Epithelium colors were very similar to those of rumen contents. Iron and other minerals may affect production of colored substances in the rumen.