PH, SODIUM, POTASSIUM, MAGNESIUM, CALCIUM , PHOSPHATE, AND CHLORIDE IN THE RUMINAL AND ABOMASAL CONTENTS OF COWS WITH DISPLACEMENT OF THE ABOMASUM

Ruminal and abomasal contents were collected from cows with left aboma sal displacement (L), right abomasal displacement (R-), or abomasal vo lvulus (R+), before the abomasum was corrected, as well as one and thr ee days later. pH and concentrations of sodium (Na), potassium (K), ma gnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), phosphate (P), and chloride (Cl) were dete rmined. Results were compared with those from healthy control cattle f ed a balanced diet. Ruminal concentrations of Na and Ca were reduced i n cattle with abomasal displacement, whereas those of K, P and Cl were increased, and those of Mg and pH remained nearly unchanged. Concentr ations of K and P before abomasal correction were lower in cattle with L than in those with R+, and declined after the correction. Concentra tions of Cl decreased continuously after the abomasum was corrected in cattle with L, whereas they increased after replacement in cattle wit h R and declined later. These findings imply that cattle with abomasal displacement took up less feed before surgical correction and that ru minal contents backed up the rumen, whereby the backup was less with L than with R+, and that the backed-up contents passed on after the abo masum was corrected. The results also indicate that a reflux of abomas al contents into the rumen took place in cattle with all forms of abom asal displacement, whereby with R+ increased amounts of abomasal conte nts passed into the rumen following correction and were then later pas sed out. Compared to controls, abomasal concentrations of Cl were incr eased in cattle with displacement and the concentrations of K, Mg, Ca, and P were reduced. Before abomasal correction, pH was decreased in c attle with L and unchanged in those with R- and R+. The concentrations of Na and K before correction in L were lower than those with R+, whe reas the concentrations of K, Mg, Ca, and P were higher. After abomasa l correction, the concentrations of Na declined, and those of K, Mg, C a, and P increased. On the third day after abomasal correction, pH and the concentrations of K, Mg, Ca, and P were lower and the concentrati ons of Cl higher than in controls. These findings indicate that before abomasal correction in cattle with abomasal displacement secretion fr om the abomasal glands was increased, abomasal contents backed up in t he abomasum, whereby the secretion/backup was less with L than with R, and that the backed-up contents are passed on after the abomasum is corrected. The findings also suggest that the increased rate of secret ion from the abomasal glands or abomasal motility disorders continues on to the third day after abomasal correction.