Saliva secretion and its relation to feeding in cattle

Abstract

While ruminants are eating food, saliva is secreted by the parotid, the submaxillary, and the sublingual glands (CoEin, 1886; Ellenberger & Hofmeister, 1887; Bailey & Balch, 1961b). According to Ellenberger & Hofmeister (1887) the submaxillary glands secrete only during eating and volumes as great as 480 ml in I h are produced by these glands in cows. The parotid glands, on the other hand, secrete continuously although, their activity is greatly enhanced during the mastication of food (Bailey & Balch, 1961b).