Excess rumen product anions in cattle. I. Blood clearance rates and reduced liver function from sublethal doses of volatile fatty acids, lactate and succinate.

Blood clearance rates of volatile fatty acids, lactate and succinate were estimated in cattle following a single rapid intravenous injection of a Na-anion solution. Bromosulfophthalein was administered immediately before the anion to monitor the effects upon liver function, blood circulation, and dose equilibrium. Acetate, propionate, and valerate at doses up to 5 mmole/kg were cleared quickly from the blood by a first-order process without effects either upon the animal or bromosulfophthalein clearance. Injection of acetic acid solutions produced no effects. Butyrate was toxic at doses above 1 mmole/kg and progressively affected both the rate and progress of bromosulfophthalein clearance as the dose increased. Lactate and succinate were toxic and lethal at doses around 0.25 mmole/kg, and caused both reduced rates and altered progress of bromosulfophthalein clearance. The toxic reactions resulted in total collapse from loss of muscle tone. The butyrate and lactate effects were accentuated when the anion solutions were injected at low pH where a large portion of the anion would be unionized. Levels of butyrate, lactate and succinate in the rumens of feedlot cattle were high enough to provide toxic doses of these anions. The results are discussed in terms of the effects of excess rumen production of these anions upon the liver function and health of feedlot cattle.