Properties of a Slime Isolated from the Rumen Fluid of Cattle Bloating on Clover Pasture

Abstract

Ethanol precipitated slime fractions were isolated from centrifuged rumen fluid of steers bloating on clover pastures. The amount of slime increased during grazing when the animals bloated. Analysis showed the fractions contained 61-64% protein, 8-14% carbohydrate and 7-10% acid. The slime fraction contained 17 amino acids, the sugars d-ribose, arabinose, glucose and the purines and pyrimidines, adenine, guanine, cytosine and uracil. The possible relationship of the slime fractions to bloat is discussed.