Journal of Veterinary Research

Journal of Veterinary Research

Evaluation of the correlation between ration physically effective fiber and rumen pH in dairy cattle

Authors
Afshin Raoofi 1
Mohammad Gholi Nadalian 1
Javad Tajik 2
Gholam Reza Mohammadi 3
Alireza Bahonar 4
1 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran-Iran
2 Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman-Iran
3 Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad-Iran
4 Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran-Iran
10.22059/jvr.2014.50992
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The current definition of subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) is based on the pH of the ruminal fluid in dairy cattle and ration physically effective fiber could be used as a non-invasive method for prediction of ruminal pH. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between ration physically effective fiber, measured using old and modified Penn-state particle separator and ruminal pH.  METHODES: The physically effective fiber measured in the ration of 17 rational group (7 fresh and 10 mid lactation cow groups). Ruminal fluid obtiained by rumenocentesis and SARA affected cows were detected. RESULTS: The physically effective fiber measured by modifed Penn-state particle separator had a correlation with mean ruminal pH of cows (r= 0.595, p= 0.012) and the ratio of subacute ruminal acidosis affected cows in rational groups (r= -0.533, p= 0.027). The ration of SARA affected mid lactation groups had less physically effective fiber than non affected groups (p= 0.041). CONCLUSIONS: According to our results, the physically effective fiber measured by modifed Penn-state particle separator had more correlation with ruminal pH in dairy cattle and can be used as a predictive index for ruminal pH.
Keywords
physically effective fiber
penn-state particle separator
Rumen pH
subacute ruminal acidosis
Journal of Veterinary Research
Volume 69, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
Spring 2014
Pages 183-189