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 HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Koers, W. C. Articles by Woods, W. R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Koers, W. C. Articles by Woods, W. R.

Ruminal Histamine, Lactate and Animal Performance¹

University of Nebraska, Lincoln 68583

Abstract

Four trials were conducted to determine the relation of histamine, pH and lactic acid to sub-acute and acute acidosis.

In a trial investigating adaptation to high concentrate feeds, wheat depressed feed intake and increased (P<.05) ruminal lactate. One percent NaOH plus 3% fat improved feed intake and reduced ruminal lactate levels on the wheat ration. Rumen fluid pH and histamine were not affected (P>.05) by grain source (wheat vs corn) or additives.

In three lambs engorged with 3.2 kg of a ground corn diet, rumen pH declined from 6.77 to 4.74 after 4 hr and remained low until hour 60. There were two ruminal lactate peaks, one at 4 to 6 hr postengorgement and the second at 60 hour. Ruminal histamine was highest at 2, 10, 24 and 60 hr postengorgement.

Infusing 50 ml of distilled water (control), 450 mg histamine, 15 g lactic acid or 400 mg histamine and 15 g lactic acid into the rumen of three sheep per treatment 1 hr postfeeding did not affect intake, but ruminal histamine disappearance was slower with the added lactic acid than when infused alone. Histamine disappeared more rapidly than lactic acid and both were removed more quickly than PEG.

Trial 4 was the same as trial 3 except histamine and lactic acid levels were doubled (900 mg and 30 g, respectively). Addition of lactic acid or lactic acid plus histamine depressed (P<.05) intake, but histamine alone had no effect. Our results suggest that ruminal histamine does not play a major role in ruminant acidosis.

¹ Published with the approval of the Director as Paper No. 3952 Journal Series, Nebraska Agriculture Experiment Station.

² Present address: 2345 Kensington Road, Salina, Kansas 67401.

³ Present address: Animal Science Department, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. T. Vasconcelos and M. L. Galyean ASAS Centennial Paper: Contributions in the Journal of Animal Science to understanding cattle metabolic and digestive disorders J Anim Sci, July 1, 2008; 86(7): 1711 - 1721. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. G. Nagaraja and E. C. Titgemeyer Ruminal Acidosis in Beef Cattle: The Current Microbiological and Nutritional Outlook J Dairy Sci, June 1, 2007; 90(13_suppl): E17 - E38. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]