The treatment and prevention of bloat with anti–foaming agents

Effect of canola oil supplementation level on total tract digestion, ruminal fermentation, and methane emissions of cows grazing Urochloa sp. supplemented with a fixed amount of concentrate

Four rumen-cannulated cows (Bos taurus × Bos indicus, 657 ± 92 kg body weight, BW) in a rotational grazing (Urochloa sp.) system were assigned to different canola oil (CO) inclusion levels, 0.0, 0.40, 0.80, and 1.2 g/kg according to shrunk body weight (SBW, BW adjusted for gastrointestinal filling) in a 4 × 4 Latin Square design to evaluate CO on the CH₄ emissions and dietary energy intake. CH₄ emissions were estimated using an infrared analyzer methodology (Sniffer method). Grass intake and fecal production were estimated using Cr₂O₃ as an external marker. CO supplementation increased (linear effect, P ≤ 0.05) total dry matter and gross energy intake with a linear increase (P = 0.09) in neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake. While digestible energy (Mcal/kg) linearly increased with increasing CO supplementation level (linear effect, P < 0.05), total tract digestion of organic matter, NDF, and CP was comparable (P > 0.05) between levels. Maximal CO supplementation (1.2 g/kg SBW) significantly decreased total ruminal protozoa population, acetate:propionate ratio, and enteric methane production (g/kg DMI) by 9, 5.3, and 17.5%, respectively. This study showed that, for cows grazing tropical forages, CO can be supplemented up to 1.2 g/kg SBW (5.8% of the total diet) without negatively affecting intake and nutrient digestion while reducing ruminal fermentation efficiency and enteric methane emission (≤ 17.5%).

BLOAT INVESTIGATIONS: I. REDUCTION OF BLOAT INCIDENCE IN DAIRY CATTLE WITH PENICILLIN AND ANTIFOAMING AGENTS

Lactating Jersey cows fed alfalfa soilage received bloat preventive treatments rotated over groups of animals in a Latin square design. Eight trials involving observations over 2260 cow days were conducted during a 4-year period.Penicillin (75 and 100 mg) by capsule reduced bloat incidence by an average of 80%. Effectiveness of penicillin was not increased by mineral oil (4 oz) drench.Mineral oil (8 oz) by drench and emulsified mineral oil (4 oz) mixed with soilage were equal to penicillin. Mineral oil (4 oz) by drench was ineffective.Tallow (4, 8, and 12 oz) mixed with soilage was effective whereas tallow (4 and 8 oz) as a drench was not effective. Tallow and peanut oil (4 oz) in emulsified form on soilage were effective and comparable to penicillin.Antifoam E.F. Emulsion (1.4 oz) by capsule, methyl silicone (3 oz) by capsule, turpentine (1.5 oz) drench, and monosodium phosphate (7 oz) drench were ineffective.The most effective preventive treatments investigated here would not prevent all animal losses. However these preventives may be useful in reducing losses where close animal supervision cannot be practised and/or where therapy of bloated animals is inconvenient or dangerous.