Montana farmer-stockman. [volume], June 15, 1953, Image 1

About Montana farmer-stockman. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1947-1993

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
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Knee deep in clover or alfalfa spells bliss for bossy but it can also spell sudden
death from bloat if her grazing is not carefully managed. Dairy cows may be
somewhat more susceptible to bloat than beef cows or sheep but all are subject
to the hazard. Some individual animals seem to be entirely immune from bloat
while others may bloat on almost any kind of feed and at almost any time.
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Cause and Control of
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Bloat in
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By TED HUNTER
LOAT is a dreaded threat which has
faced livestock producers and handlers
for generations. A great number of experi
ments and observations have been recorded
which deal with the prevention and cure of
bloat. Conditions favoring bloat are some
times unknowingly encountered and may
inflict heavy losses on inexperienced or un
heeding stockmen.
Cattle, sheep, goats and probably all other
ruminants are subject to bloat. Some studies
have indicated that dairy cattle may be
more susceptible than beef cattle or sheep,
but the differences in the susceptibility of
species are probably less significant than the
differences in individual animals in the
same species.
Some investigators estimate that approxi
mately 30 per cent of any given group of
lactating dairy cows will be practically im
mune to bloat. Again, some animals may
be classed as chronic bloaters as they will
bloat on almost any feed.
Gases Accumulate in Rumen
Bloat occurs in ruminants when gases
accumulate in the first stomach, also known
as the rumen or paunch, and continue to in
crease in volume if the animal is unable to
release them. When too great an excess of
gas is built up in the rumen, some of it
may be absorbed into the bloodstream. Some
of these gases are poisonous and when ab
sorbed in the blood stream will kill the
animal.
Though several gases are formed in the
rumen by digestive fermentation, experi
ment has shown that those chiefly respon
sible for the poisoning effect are carbon
monoxide and hydrogen sulphide.
The results of investigations indicate that
most cases of common bloat occurring bn
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Alfalfa, though one of the most productive and valuable of all forage crops,
is also one of the chief bloat-causing feeds when grazed directly by ruminants.
There are many theories regarding the tendency of alfalfa and other legumes to
cause bloat. Most generally accepted is that ruminants grazing free-choice eat
only tender tips which do not provide enough roughage to stimulate belching of
gases that develop in the rumen. Alfalfa is also known to contain a chemical
called saponin which creates a foam that complicates release of gases.
legume pasture can be explained by the
inability of the animals to eliminate ruminal
gas in a normal manner by means of belch
ing. This results from insufficient feed in
the rumen contents of such irritating nature
as to stimulate the belching reflex. The
accumulating gas eventually results in so
called bloat which, in severe cases, may
cause death.
Four Stomachs
In the digestive tract of ruminants there
are four stomachs—or rather, one stomach
with four divisions—each of which contri
butes to the digestion of feed. The rumen is
the first stomach and its chief function is to
store the food, swallowed hurriedly by the
animal, until the beast finds time to further
digest this food. The familiar belching and
cud-chewing of ruminants takes place dur
ing the digestion process.
While food is lodging in the rumen, fer
mentation occurs and certain bacteria and
protozoa flora start to decompose it. In the
chemical change taking place, gases are
formed. When the animal belches to move
the food to the second stomach, she opens
the esophagus enough to allow some of the
accumlating gas to escape from the rumen.
This is where the trouble starts.
Legumes Chief Offenders
It has long been known by stockmen that
livestock bloat more frequently on some
types of feeds and forages than on others.
Alfalfa and clovers (and most other legumes)
have long been feared as causes of bloat. The
opinion was quite (Please turn to page 18)