Changes

===Other Tests===

===Other Tests===

Cow management and nutrition should be assessed on the farm. The adequacy of effective long fibre can be determined by visual inspection of the diet, or by use of the Penn State Forage Particle Seperator. This is a set of sieves designed to separate the by particle size to facilitate the evaluation of effective long fibre. It cannot be used for diets containing large amounts of wet grass silage, as this clogs the sieve, but can be useful for evaluting separate forage components and total mixed rations. Sequential analaysis of the ration throughout the day will identify whether the ration is being sorted. It is also important to  determine the availability of food to cattle at all times, and a detailed management history should be obtained.  

Cow management and nutrition should be assessed on the farm. The adequacy of effective long fibre can be determined by visual inspection of the diet, or by use of the Penn State Forage Particle Seperator. This is a set of sieves designed to separate the ration by particle size to facilitate the evaluation of effective long fibre. It cannot be used for diets containing large amounts of wet grass silage, as this clogs the sieve, but can be useful for evaluting separate forage components and total mixed rations. Sequential analaysis of the ration throughout the day will identify whether the ration is being sorted. It is also important to  determine the availability of food to cattle at all times, and a detailed management history should be obtained.  

Sieving of faeces can provide useful information. Between 6 and 12 faecal samples per group of cows are collected from the ground and seived in a kitchen sieve under running water. Fibre length and the presence of undigested food can then be visually assessed. Fibres of greater than 1.25cm in the faeces is suggestive of SARA, and undigested grains indicate either SARA or poor grain preparation. Fibrin casts may also be visualised in this way.

Sieving of faeces can provide useful information. Between 6 and 12 faecal samples per group of cows are collected from the ground and seived in a kitchen sieve under running water. Fibre length and the presence of undigested food can then be visually assessed. Fibres of greater than 1.25cm in the faeces is suggestive of SARA, and undigested grains indicate either SARA or poor grain preparation. Fibrin casts may also be visualised in this way.