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 Allison, M. J. Articles by James, L. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Allison, M. J. Articles by James, L. F.

Changes in Ruminal Oxalate Degradation Rates Associated with Adaptation to Oxalate Ingestion^{1 ,2,}

National Animal Disease Center, North Central Region, Agricultural Research Service, P. O. Box 70, Ames, Iowa 50010 and and Poisonious Plant Laboratory, Logan, Utah

Abstract

Two sheep and 1 cow were changed gradually from diets of alfalfa hay to diets that contained Halogeton glomeratus (halogeton). The halogeton used contained 12% (w/w) oxalic acid, and transitions to the halogeton diet were accompanied by marked (10-fold and greater) increases in the in vitro rate of oxalate metabolism by ruminal microbes. A transition period of 3 to 4 days appeared to be required for selection of a microbial population that rapidly degraded oxalate. Adapted animals tolerated the oxalate (.45 moles/day per sheep) and signs of toxicity were not observed. Increased rates of oxalate degradation were also observed in response to infusion of gradually increasing amounts of sodium oxalate into the rumens of two other sheep. These sheep however, died because they were unable to tolerate the .43 to .46 moles of oxalate infused per day.

Oxalate degrading capacity was negligible in cell-free ruminal fluid from adapted sheep but was associated with fractions that contained bacterial cells. Degradation was inhibited by several antibiotics and by exposure of the incubation mixtures to oxygen. None of 99 pure cultures of bacteria isolated from an oxalate adapted sheep degraded oxalate.

¹ The technical assistance of J. A. Bucklin, Carl Johnson and Paul Frederick is gratefully acknowledged.

² Mention of a trade name, proprietary product, or specific equipment does not constitute a guarantee or warranty by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products that may be suitable.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Allison and H. Cook Oxalate degradation by microbes of the large bowel of herbivores: the effect of dietary oxalate Science, May 8, 1981; 212(4495): 675 - 676. [Abstract] [PDF]