A radio transmission pH measurement system for continuous evaluation of fluid pH in the rumen of cows

Vet Res Commun. 2012 Mar;36(1):85-9. doi: 10.1007/s11259-012-9518-x. Epub 2012 Jan 27.

Abstract

We developed a novel wireless radio transmission pH measurement system to continuously monitor ruminal bottom pH in cows, and compared these measurements to pH values determined by a spot-sample method. The wireless system consists of a pH sensor, data measurement receiver, relay unit, and personal computer with special software. The bullet-shaped sensor can be easily administered orally via a catheter into the rumen, without surgery. The glass electrode, using a temperature compensation system, can detect the rumen fluid pH with high accuracy. The ruminal bottom pH in healthy rumen-fistulated cows was measured as 6.52 ± 0.18 by the wireless system and as 6.62 ± 0.20 by the spot-sample method; with a correlation between pH measurements using these different methods (n = 8, 24 samples, r = 0.952, P < 0.01). When measured serially in a cow fed a diet evoking rumen acidosis, the ruminal bottom pH decreased markedly following the morning feeding and then increased gradually by the next morning feeding. This wireless system is a ready-to-use tool for estimating circadian changes in ruminal bottom pH.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Acidosis / chemically induced
  • Acidosis / physiopathology
  • Acidosis / veterinary*
  • Animals
  • Cattle / physiology*
  • Cattle Diseases / chemically induced
  • Cattle Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Circadian Rhythm
  • Dairying
  • Diet
  • Female
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Monitoring, Physiologic / instrumentation
  • Monitoring, Physiologic / veterinary*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Rumen / chemistry*
  • Telemetry / instrumentation
  • Telemetry / veterinary*