Abstract
Saliva facilitates feed ingestion, nutrient circulation, and represents an important pH buffer for ruminants, especially for cattle fed high-concentrate diets that promote rumen acidification. This experiment evaluated the short-term effects of nine phytogenic compounds on salivation, saliva physico-chemical composition as well as ingested feed boli characteristics in cattle. A total of nine ruminally cannulated Holstein cows were used. Each compound was tested in four of these cows as part of a high-concentrate meal (2.5 kg of total mixed ration in dry matter basis for 4 h) in low or high dose, and was compared to a control meal without compound. Saliva was sampled orally (unstimulated saliva) for physico-chemical composition analysis. Composition of the ingested saliva (stimulated saliva), salivation and feed boli characteristics were assessed from ingesta collected at the cardia during the first 30 min of the meal. Analysis of unstimulated saliva showed that supplementation with capsaicin and thyme oil increased buffer capacity, while supplementation with thymol, L-menthol and gentian root decreased saliva pH. In addition, supplementing angelica root decreased saliva osmolality. Regression analysis on unstimulated saliva showed negative associations between mucins and bicarbonate as well as with phosphate when garlic oil, thyme oil or angelica root was supplemented. Analysis of stimulated saliva demonstrated that supplementation with garlic oil increased phosphate concentration, thyme oil tended to increase osmolality, capsaicin and thymol increased buffer capacity, and ginger increased phosphate content. Furthermore, salivation rate increased with ginger and thymol, and tended to increase with garlic oil, capsaicin, L-menthol and mint oil. Feed ensalivation increased with capsaicin. A positive association was found between feed bolus size and salivation rate when any of the phytogenic compounds was supplemented. Overall, our results demonstrate positive short-term effects of several phytogenic compounds on unstimulated and stimulated saliva physico-chemical properties, salivation or feed boli characteristics. Thus, the phytogenic compounds enhancing salivary physico-chemical composition have the potential to contribute to maintain or improve ruminal health in cattle fed concentrate-rich rations.