HOME CURRENT ISSUE TABLE OF CONTENTS ARCHIVE SEARCH SUBSCRIPTIONS JOBS FEEDBACK HELP		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Braun, U. Articles by Rauch, S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Braun, U. Articles by Rauch, S.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of reticular motility during rest, eating, rumination and stress in 30 healthy cows

¹ Department of Farm Animals, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland

A 3·5 MHz linear transducer was used to assess the motility of the reticulum in 30 healthy, standing, non-sedated cows while they were at rest, eating, ruminating and under stress. The ultrasonographic examinations were made over periods of nine minutes and video recorded for analysis. The reticulum contracted in a biphasic pattern while the cows were resting, eating or stressed. The first contraction was incomplete and was followed by a period of incomplete relaxation. A complete second contraction occurred immediately afterwards, followed by an interval of complete relaxation and the return of the organ to its original position. When the cows were ruminating, a regurgitation contraction, which was incomplete, occurred immediately before the biphasic contraction. The number of reticular contractions in a nine-minute period was largest when the cows were eating (13·9 contractions, or approximately 1·5 per minute) and smallest when they were stressed (9·3 contractions, or approximately 1 per minute). The duration of the first reticular contraction was shortest during rumination (2·4 seconds) and longest when the cows were eating (3·0 seconds). The interval between two biphasic contractions was shortest when the cows were eating (31·6 seconds) and longest when they were stressed (53·8 seconds).

This article has been cited by other articles:

				U. Braun, S. Rauch, and M. Hassig Ultrasonographic evaluation of reticular motility in 144 cattle with vagal indigestion Vet Rec., January 3, 2009; 164(1): 11 - 13. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]