Acquisition and analysis of bovine rumen fluid

Abstract

Rumen fluid sampling has assumed increasing importance in veterinary practice in recent years. Descriptions of suitable sampling devices and of methods for analyzing the aspirated rumen fluid have appeared in the literature and have been included in textbooks of clinical methods for a fairly long time. However, the diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities afforded to the cattle practitioner by the acquisition of rumen fluid have not yet been dealt with to a satisfactory extent. Recently the collection and analysis of rumen fluid have acquired renewed importance through clarification of the pathogenesis and clinical signs of the abomasalruminal reflux syndrome.