The water intake of grazing cows and its effect on the intake of #x201C;Pluronic L64#x201D; administered in the drinking water for the control of bloat

摘要

Studies of the use of the anti-foaming detergent #x201C;Pluronic#x201D; administered in the drinking water as a means of controlling bloat have been made using fixed concentrations. Under normal grazing conditions, where the material is added to the drinking water trough, the concentration will vary according to the level of water intake and also in each drinking period through continuous dilution by incoming water. The water intake of a herd of 80 cows in milk has been measured for a period of several weeks under various weather conditions in the early spring period, when bloat is prevalent These figures have been used to estimate the concentration changes taking place in the drinking water under conditions of continuous twice-daily dosing with #x201C;Pluronic#x201D;, and thus determine the average daily intake of the material over the period in question.