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Influence of Specific Gravity on Rumination and Passage of Indigestible Particles¹

University of Vermont, Burlington 05405

Abstract

Indigestible plastic particles (.5 x .16 cm) with different specific gravities (.90, .96, 1.17, 1.42, 1.77 and 2.15) were fed in single doses of 4,000 particles of each specific gravity intraruminally to four fistulated steers in Exp. 1 and orally to four dry cows in Exp. 2 and 3. Plastic particles were recovered by flotation. First, particles lighter than hay and water were floated and recovered. The fecal residue was then dried, so the dried organic matter floated while the heavier plastic particles sank. All particles were color coded according to specific gravity and were separated by hand into specific gravity, ruminated and nonruminated categories. In Exp. 1, the average total 10-d recoveries differed (P<.01) and values in increasing order of specific gravities were 17.1, 22.4, 85.2, 58.6, 58.8 and 60.4%. The ruminated fractions also differed (P<.01) and were 12.9, 17.1, 52.1, 1.7, 5.3 and 2.4% of the particles ingested, respectively. In Exp. 2, the average total 10-d particle recovery varied with specific gravity (P<.01) and were 46.2, 46.1, 92.2, 93.7, 96.2 and 78.6% with increasing specific gravity. The ruminated particles differed (P<.01) and averaged 39.2, 39.5, 53.4, 12.9, 11.7 and 5.5% of the ingested particles, respectively. In Exp. 3, the average total 10-d particle recovery reflected specific gravity (P<.01) and was 37.8, 35.4, 87.4, 94.2, 96.6 and 85.0% for specific gravities .90, .96, 1.17, 1.42, 1.77 and 2.15, respectively. The recovery percentages of ruminated particles differed (P<.01) and were 31.4, 30.2, 71.5, 29.5, 18.7 and 8.4. Highest recovery of particles of specific gravities 1.17, 1.42, 1.77 and 2.15 occurred on d 2. In all three experiments, the particles of lower specific gravities of .90 and .96 showed low and relatively uniform passage during the entire 10-d recovery period.

¹ Vermont Agr. Exp. Sta. Journal Article No. 533.

² Present Address: Dept. of Anim. Sci., Univ. of Ife, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

³ Dept. of Anim. Sci.

⁴ The technical assistance of R. Palmer is gratefully acknowledged.