HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Schwartz, C. C. Articles by Streeter, C. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Schwartz, C. C. Articles by Streeter, C. L.

Pesticide Effect on Rumen Microbial Function¹

Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80521

Abstract

Results of this study indicate that bordeaux mixture, toxaphene, Mema RM, DDT, EPN, Zectran, dieldrin, parathion, Mobam and aldrin significantly (P<.05) reduced in vitro dry matter and cellwall constituent digestion at pesticide concentrations of 1,000 ppm. No effect was noted with Baygon, Black-Leaf 40, malathion and 2,4-D acid on either cell-wall constituent digestion or dry matter digestion in vitro. Sevin was inhibitory to cell-wall constituent digestion in vitro at 1,000 ppm but had no effect on in vitro dry matter digestion. There was no significant (P>.05) difference noted in in vitro digestion with a pesticide concentration less than 100 ppm. Since contaminated forage usually contains low residue concentrations it was concluded that pesticides would have a negligible effect on rumen microbial function. It is significant to note that levels required for inhibition were high with respect to levels encountered in the field. For most inhibitory compounds, to reach a concentration of 1,000 ppm in the rumen, the concentration of pesticide required would be so great that the amount would be well over the calculated LD₅₀ for that compound.

Results also indicated that bordeaux mixture and 2,4-D acid fed to goats for 12 days at levels near 300 ppm had no effect on reducing cell-wall constituent or dry matter digestion. Differences in rumen pH between treatment and control groups were not detected.

¹ This study was financed through the U.S.D.I. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife (Contract No. 14–16–0008–968).

² Present address: Chariton Biology Station, Red Haw State Park, Chariton, Iowa 50049.

³ Department of Fishery and Wildlife Biology.

⁴ Present address: Department of Animal Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40506.

⁵ The authors thank Dr. O. C. Wallmo and Wayne Regelin for review of the manuscript; Richard K. Tucker who aided in pesticide selection; and Robert E. White, Melvin Mohn, James Peterson and Iowa Okuno for pesticide residue analysis.