Solar radiation affects bloat potential of wheat forage

Dariusz Piotr Malinowski,Dipti Pitta,Byeng R Min,William E Pinchak

doi:10.5586/aa.1754

Dariusz Piotr Malinowski, Dipti Pitta + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5586/aa.1754

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Abstract

Frothy bloat is a serious digestive disorder in cattle (<em>Bos taurus</em> L.) grazing winter wheat (<em>Triticum aestivum</em> L.) pastures in the Southern Great Plains of the USA. Wheat plant metabolism may be one of the factors involved in bloat occurrence. In a series of experiments conducted during 2004–2007, we evaluated the effects of solar radiation intensity (ambient, 100% vs. reduced, 25%), a short-time (24 h vs. 48 h) exposure to solar radiation, and forage allowance (high, 18 kg vs. low, 6 kg DM/100 kg body weight) on seasonal concentration of phenolic compounds and foam strength (a measure of bloat potential) of wheat forage ‘Cutter’. Reduced solar radiation decreased total phenolic concentration and increased foam strength when compared to ambient solar radiation. Forage allowance interacted with solar radiation and short-term exposure treatments in determining phenolic concentrations; however, the effects were inconsistent during and among growing seasons. Concentration of phenolic compounds responded rapidly to sudden changes in weather patterns (passing cold fronts) that were usually associated with significant decrease in solar radiation intensity and temperature. Solar radiation intensity was positively correlated with total phenolic concentration and explained 62% to 72% of the variation in total phenolic concentration. Correlation between temperature and total phenolic concentration varied among growing seasons and explained 9–17% of the variation in total phenolic concentration. Results suggest that phenolic concentration in wheat forage is correlated with solar radiation. The decrease in phenolic concentration and resulting increase of bloat potential are especially pronounced during sudden changes in weather patterns during winter.

Highlights

Hard red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is often used as a source winter forage in environments with mild winters, such as the Southern Great Plains of the USA [1], Australia [2], China [3], Argentina [4], Uruguay [5], Pakistan [6], and the Mediterranean Basin [7]
Results of our studies suggest that intensity of solar radiation affects the concentration of phenolic compounds in wheat forage
Results of our studies provide further evidence for the presence of phenolic compounds in wheat forage and an inverse correlation between total phenolic concentration and foam strength

Summary

Introduction

Hard red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is often used as a source winter forage in environments with mild winters, such as the Southern Great Plains of the USA [1], Australia [2], China [3], Argentina [4], Uruguay [5], Pakistan [6], and the Mediterranean Basin [7]. About half of the total area planted to winter wheat in the Southern Great Plains (2.5 million hectares annually) is for dual-use (forage and grain) and graze-out (forage only) [1]. Total and soluble forage proteins have been identified as precursors to frothy bloat in cattle grazing on wheat forage [10]. Frothy bloat is a digestive condition caused by the capture of ruminal gases in a polysaccharide biofilm that forms a matrix with ingesta. This matrix leads to an increase in intraruminal pressure, suppression of nerve receptors at the esophagus-reticulorumen juncture regulating eructation, and a cessation of eructation leading to death from pulmonary or cardiac arrest [11]. The annual impacts of frothy bloat on cattle production in the United States and Australia are estimated to be greater than $300 million and $180 million, respectively [12]

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