Clearance of Biodegradable Polymer and Polyethylene Films from the Rumens of Holstein Bull Calves
| dc.contributor.author | Galyon, Hailey | en |
| dc.contributor.author | Vibostok, Samuel | en |
| dc.contributor.author | Duncan, Jane | en |
| dc.contributor.author | Ferreira, Gonzalo | en |
| dc.contributor.author | Whittington, Abby | en |
| dc.contributor.author | Havens, Kirk | en |
| dc.contributor.author | McDevitt, Jason | en |
| dc.contributor.author | Cockrum, Rebecca R. | en |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2023-03-10T14:08:36Z | en |
| dc.date.available | 2023-03-10T14:08:36Z | en |
| dc.date.issued | 2023-03-03 | en |
| dc.date.updated | 2023-03-10T14:01:47Z | en |
| dc.description.abstract | Due to the occurrence of plastic impaction in ruminants and its deleterious effects on health and production, it is necessary to determine the suitability of biodegradable polymers to replace polyethylene-based agricultural plastics, such as hay netting. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the clearance of a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) and poly(butylene succinate-<i>co</i>-adipate) (PBSA) melt-blend polymer from the rumen when fed to cattle and subsequent animal health. Twelve Holstein bull calves were dosed with an encapsulated 13.6 g of PBSA:PHA (Blend), 13.6 g of low-density polyethylene (LDPE), or four empty gelatin capsules (Control) for 30 d. The feed intake, body weight, and body temperature were evaluated, and hemograms were run on d 0 and d 30. On d 31, calves were euthanized to evaluate gross rumen measurements and pathology, papillae length, and polymer residues in rumen contents. No calves presented any signs related to plastic impaction. The feed intake; body weight; rectal temperature; hematological parameters; gross rumen measurements and pathology; and rumen pH and temperature were not affected by treatments. Calves dosed with LDPE had 27 g of undegraded polymer retained in the rumen while Blend calves had only 2 g of fragmented polymers that were 10% of their original size. Agricultural plastics developed from PBSA:PHA may be a suitable alternative to LDPE-based products in the case of animal ingestion and may reduce the incidence of plastic impaction. | en |
| dc.description.version | Published version | en |
| dc.format.mimetype | application/pdf | en |
| dc.identifier.citation | Galyon, H.; Vibostok, S.; Duncan, J.; Ferreira, G.; Whittington, A.; Havens, K.; McDevitt, J.; Cockrum, R. Clearance of Biodegradable Polymer and Polyethylene Films from the Rumens of Holstein Bull Calves. Animals 2023, 13, 928. | en |
| dc.identifier.doi | https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13050928 | en |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10919/114073 | en |
| dc.language.iso | en | en |
| dc.publisher | MDPI | en |
| dc.rights | Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International | en |
| dc.rights.uri | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | en |
| dc.subject | biodegradable | en |
| dc.subject | polyhydroxyalkanoate | en |
| dc.subject | poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) | en |
| dc.subject | rumen | en |
| dc.subject | plastic impaction | en |
| dc.title | Clearance of Biodegradable Polymer and Polyethylene Films from the Rumens of Holstein Bull Calves | en |
| dc.title.serial | Animals | en |
| dc.type | Article - Refereed | en |
| dc.type.dcmitype | Text | en |