Hostname: page-component-76d6cb85b7-mgxrv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-07-15T20:54:12.844Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Some effects of chloral hydrate on rumen fermentation and digestion in sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

J. C. Mathers  and
E. L. Miller
J. C. Mathers
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Biology, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3DX
E. L. Miller
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Biology, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3DX
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Two experiments were carried out with adult sheep to investigate the effects of chloral hydrate (CH) on rumen metabolism and on the sites and extent of digestion.

Experiment 1 confirmed that CH is a very potent methane inhibitor; doses of 1 or 4 g/day reduced methane production to 4% of that observed in the absence of the drug. In both experiments, CH administration altered the proportions of volatile fatty acids in rumen fluid. The main changes were an increase in propionic acid and a decrease in acetic acid with smaller increases in the proportion of isovaleric, valeric and caproic acids. Stoichiometric calculations indicated that only 21% of the hydrogen saved by prevention of methanogenesis was diverted to the synthesis of additional propionic and butyric acids and the fate of the remaining hydrogen was not determined unequivocally.

CH had little effect on the extent of biohydrogenation in the rumen of the long-chain fatty acids in dried grass.

The apparent digestibility of ether extract was reduced (P < 0·05) by CH but those of other proximate constituents and energy were little affected. There were no s gnificant effects of CH on the extent of digestion of dry matter, organic matter, non-ammonia nitrogen or ash between the mouth and abomasum, abomasum and terminal ileum or ileum and anus.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 99 , Issue 1 , August 1982 , pp. 215 - 224
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1982

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

REFERENCES

Agricultural Research Council (1980). The Nutrient Requirements of Ruminant Livestock. Farnham Royal: Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux.Google Scholar
Axford, R. F. E., Evans, R. A., Ghebremeskel, K., Siulapwa, N. & Vera, A. (1982). The establishment of equilibrium conditions in the digestive tract of the sheep after dietary change. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society (in the Press).Google Scholar
Blaxter, K. L. (1967). The Energy Metabolism of Ruminants, 2nd edn.London: Hutchinsons.Google Scholar
Bligh, E. G. & Dyer, W. J. (1959). A rapid method of total lipid extraction and purification. Canadian Journal of Biochemistry and Physiology 37, 911–917.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Blood, D. C, Henderson, J. A. & Radostits, O. M. (1979). Veterinary Medicine, 5th edn.London: Baillère Tindall.Google Scholar
Clapperton, J. L. (1974). The effect of trichloroacetamide, chloroform and linseed oil given into the rumen of sheep on some of the end-products of rumen digestion. British Journal of Nutrition 32, 155–161.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Clapperton, J. L. & Czerkawski, J. W. (1972). The energy metabolism of sheep – the effect of infusing small amounts of chloroform into the rumen. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 31, 55A.Google ScholarPubMed
Cole, N. A. & McCroskey, J. E. (1975). Effects of hemiacotal of chloral and starch on the performance of beef steers. Journal of Animal Science 41, 1735–1741.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Czerkawski, J. W. (1967). Effect of storage on the fatty acids of ryegrass. British Journal of Nutrition 21, 599–608.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Czerkawski, J. W. (1969). Methane production in ruminants and its significance. World Review of Nutrition and Dietetics 11, 240–282.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Czerkawski, J. W. (1976). Studies of changes in rumen metabolism during inhibition of methane production. In Energy Metabolism of Farm Animals (ed. Vermorel, M.), pp. 69–72. Clermont Ferrand: G. du Bussac.Google Scholar
Czerkawski, J. W., Blaxter, K. L. & Wainman, F. W. (1966). The metabolism of oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids by sheep with reference to their effects on methane production. British Journal of Nutrition 20, 349–362.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Czerkawski, J. W. & Breckenridge, G. (1969). The effect of oxygen on fermentation of sucrose by rumen micro-organisms in vitro. British Journal of Nutrition 23, 67–80.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dawson, R. M. C. & Kemp, P. (1970). Biohydrogenation of dietary fats in ruminants. In Physiology of Digestion and Metabolism in the Ruminant (ed. Phillipson, A. T.), pp. 504–519. Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Oriel Press.Google Scholar
Hartman, L. & Lago, R. C. A. (1973). Rapid preparation of fatty acid methyl esters from lipids. Laboratory Practice 22, 475–476.Google ScholarPubMed
Hawke, J. C. (1973). Lipids. In Chemistry and Biochemistry of Herbage, vol. I (ed. Butler, G. W. and Bailey, R. W.), pp. 213–263. London: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Hogan, J. P. & Weston, R. H. (1970). Quantitative aspects of microbial protein synthesis in the rumen. In Physiology of Digestion and Metabolism in the Ruminant (ed. Phillipson, A. T.), pp. 474–485. Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Oriel Press.Google Scholar
Hobton, G. M. J. (1980 a). A note on the effect of monensin and amichloral in steer diets. Animal Production 30, 441–444.Google Scholar
Horton, G. M. J. (1980 b). Use of feed additives to reduce ruminal methane production and deaminase activity in steers. Journal of Animal Science 50, 1160–1164.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Johnson, D. E. (1972). Effects of a hemiaeetal of chloral and starch on methane production and energy balance of sheep fed a pelleted diet. Journal of Animal Science 35, 1064–1068.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Johnson, D. E. (1974). Adaptational responses in nitrogen and energy balance of lambs fed a methane inhibitor. Journal of Animal Science 38, 154–157.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kemp, P. & Lander, D. J. (1976). Inhibition of the biohydrogenation of dietary C18 unsaturated fatty acids by rumen bacteria using some inhibitors of methanogenesis. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 35, 31A–32A.Google ScholarPubMed
Lanigan, G. W. (1971). Metabolism of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in the ovine rumen. III. The competitive relationship between heliotrine metabolism and methanogenesis in rumen fluid in vitro. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 22, 123–130.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lanigan, G. W. (1972). Metabolism of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in the ovine rumen. IV. Effects of chloral hydrate and halogenated methanes on rumen methanogenesis and alkaloid metabolism in fistulated sheep. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 23, 1085–1091.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lanigan, G. W., Payne, A. L. & Peterson, J. E. (1978). Antimethanogenic drugs and Heliotropium europeum poisoning in penned sheep. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 29, 1281–1292.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lanigan, G. W. & Smith, L. W. (1970). Metabolism of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in the ovine rumen. I. Formation of 7 α-hydroxy-1 α-methyl-8 α-pyrrolizidine from heliotrine and lasiocarpine. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 21, 493–500.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leibholz, J. (1975). Ground roughage in the diet of the early-weaned calf. Animal Production 20, 93–100.Google Scholar
Leibholz, J. & Russell, C. L. (1978). Chaffed or ground straw and lucerne in the diet of the earlyweaned calf. Animal Production 27, 171–179.Google Scholar
Leng, R. A. (1970). Formation and production of volatile fatty acids in the rumen. In Physiology of Digestion and Metabolism in the Ruminant (ed. Phillipson, A. T.), pp. 406–421. Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Oriel Press.Google Scholar
Leng, R. A. (1973). Salient features of the digestion of pastures by ruminants and other herbivores. In Chemistry and Biochemistry of Herbage, vol. 3 (ed. Butler, G. W. and Bailey, R. W.), pp. 81–129. New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
McDonald, P., Edwards, R. A. & Greenhalgh, J. F. D. (1969). Animal Nutrition. Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd.Google Scholar
Marty, R. J. & Demeyer, D. L. (1973). The effect of inhibitors of methane production on fermentation pattern and stoichiometry in vitro using rumen contents from sheep given molasses. British Journal of Nutrition 30, 369–376.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mathers, J. C. (1979). Inter-relationships between energy and protein metabolism in the rumen. Ph. D. thesis, University of Cambridge.Google Scholar
Mathers, J. C. & Miller, E. L. (1980). A simple procedure using 35S incorporation for the measurement of microbial and undegraded food protein in ruminant digesta. British Journal of Nutrition 43, 503–514.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mathers, J. C. & Miller, E. L. (1981). Quantitative studies of food protein degradation and the energetic efficiency of microbial protein synthesis in the rumen of sheep given chopped lucerne and rolled barley. British Journal of Nutrition 45, 587–604.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mathers, J. C. & Walters, D. E. (1982). Variation in methane production by sheep fed every two hours. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 98, 633–638.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Miller, E. L. (1973). Evaluation of foods as sources of nitrogen and amino acids. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 32, 79–84.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Outen, G. E., Beever, D. E. & Osbourn, D. F. (1974). Digestion and absorption of lipids by sheep fed chopped and ground dried grass. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 25, 981–987.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Prins, R. A. (1965). Action of chloral hydrate on rumen microorganisms in vitro. Journal of Dairy Science 48, 991–993.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Prins, R. A. & Lankhorst, A. (1977). Factors affecting lactate metabolism in the rumen. In Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Production Diseases in Farm Animals (ed. Adrichem, P. W. M.), pp. 88–91. Wageningen: Centre for Agricultural Publishing and Documentation.Google Scholar
Prins, R. A., Van Nevel, C. J. & Demeyer, D. I. (1972). Pure culture studies of inhibitors for methanogenic bacteria. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 38, 281–287.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Quaghebeur, D. & Oyaert, W. (1971). Effect of chloral hydrate and related compounds on the fermentation of glucose by rumen bacteria. Zentralblatt für Veterinärmedizin A18, 55–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Russell, G. R. & Smith, R. M. (1968). Reduction of heliotrine by a rumen microorganism. Australian Journal of Biological Science 21, 1277–1290.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sutton, J. D., Storry, J. E. & Nicholson, J. W. G. (1970). The digestion of fatty acids in the stomach and intestines of sheep given widely different rations. Journal of Dairy Research 37, 97–105.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thomson, W. A. R. (1976). Black's Medical Dictionary 31st edn. (ed. Thomson, W. A. R.). London: Adam & Charles Black.Google Scholar
Trei, J. E., Parish, R. C, Singh, Y. K. & Scott, G. C.(1971). Effect of methane inhibitors on rumen metabolism and feedlot performance of sheep. Journal of Dairy Science 54, 536–540.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Trei, J. E., Scott, G. C. & Parish, R. C. (1972). Influence of methane inhibition on energetic efficiency of lambs. Journal of Animal Science 34, 510–515.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ulyatt, M. J., Czerkawski, J. W. & Blaxter, K. L. (1966). A technique for quantitative measurement of hydrogenation of long-chain fatty acids in the forestomachs of the sheep. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 25, xviii–xix.Google Scholar
Ulyatt, M. J., Dellow, D. W., Reid, C. S. W. & Bauchop, T. (1975). Structure and function of the large intestine of ruminants. In Digestion and Metabolism in the Ruminant (ed. McDonald, I. W. and Warner, A. C. I.), pp. 119–133. Armidale, Australia: University of New England Publishing Unit.Google Scholar
Van Leeuwen, J. M. & Van Adrichem, P. W. M. (1968). Prooven met chloral hydraat. Landbouwkundig Tijdschrift 80, 450–453.Google Scholar
Van Nevel, C. J., Henderickz, H. K., Demeyer, D. I. & Martin, J. (1969). Effect of chloral hydrate on methane and propionic acid in the rumen. Applied Microbiology 17, 695–700.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Van Soest, P. J. (1963). Use of detergents in the analysis of fibrous feeds. II. A rapid method for the determination of fibre and lignin. Journal of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists 46, 829–835.Google Scholar
Vercoe, J. E. & Blaxter, K. L. (1965). The metabolism of formic acid in sheep. British Journal of Nutrition 19, 523–530.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walker, D. J. (1968). The position of lactic acid and its derivatives in the nutrition and metabolism of ruminants. Nutrition Abstracts and Reviews 38, 1–11.Google ScholarPubMed
West, G. P. (1976). Black's Veterinary Dictionary. 12th edn. (ed. West, G. P.). London: Adam & Charles Black.Google Scholar
Wilde, P. F. & Dawson, R. M. C. (1966). The biohydrogenation of α-linolenic acid and oleic acid by rumen microorganisms. Biochemical Journal 98, 469–475.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wood, J. M., Kennedy, F. S. & Wolfe, R. S. (1968). The reaction of multihalogenated hydrocarbons with free and bound reduced vitamin B12. Biochemistry, New York 7, 1707–1713.CrossRefGoogle Scholar