Separation of deterrents to ingestive behavior of cattle from cattle feces

Feeding-deterrent chemicals were extracted from cattle feces and then separ ated with three chromatographic methods. Behavioral two-choice test bioassa ys with cattle were used to examine the deterrent properties of the fractio ns. Cattle feces were extracted with diethyl ether, and the extracts were s eparated into neutral, acidic, and basic fractions. Of the three fractions, only the neutral fraction was a deterrent. Separation of the ether-soluble neutral chemicals was conducted with an open column of silica gel using fo ur carrier solutions consisting of pentane and ether. Fraction B (eluted wi th the carrier solution; pentane:ether = 90:10) was the most effective dete rrent among the four fractions. This fraction was divided into 10 fractions by liquid chromatography. Fractions 6, 7, and 8 seemed to deter cattle fro m feeding. The combined Fractions 6, 7, and 8 were separated into 15 fracti ons with HPLC. Deterrent activities were detected in Fractions 2, 3, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13,and 14, suggesting that deterrents were separated into two grou ps using HPLC. These results suggested that several specific chemicals in f eces are involved in inhibiting cattle from ingesting grass near cattle fec es.