Blood Changes of Cattle during Bloat and Effects of the Alfalfa Forage In Vitro

Abstract

Twelve cattle of mixed breeding were grazed for 12 days on alfalfa pasture and 12 days on blue grass. Blood values were determined for red cell cholinesterase (ChE), plasma ascorbic acid, and total plasma cholesterol before a two-hour morning grazing period and again after a two-hour afternoon grazing period. The animals were graded for bloat after grazing. Alfalfa pasture increased the total plasma cholesterol values and this increase was highly correlated with the severity of bloat. The occurrence of bloat was highly correlated with the in vitro inhibition of muscle respiration produced by a fraction of the forage. No significant change was noted for either ChE (both in vivo and in vitro systems) or ascorbic acid during bloat.