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Subacute Rumenal Acidosis (view source)
Revision as of 20:32, 26 August 2010
, 20:32, 26 August 2010→Clinical Signs
Loose faeces with excessive faecal soiling of hindquarters. Closer examination of the faeces may revela fibrin casts, undigested cereal grains and long fibres. Cows swishing their tails when there are no flies due to gut and or urine irritation. Reduction in milk butterfat. Reduction in milk yoeld. with cows not milking to expectation. REduction in DMI. Individual animals variably go off their food with a consequent reduction in milk yeild. Cows spilling their cud whilts ruminating. Increased incidence of nutritional-related diseases, such as NEB/acetonaemia, LDAs, poor fertility, lameness and other peri-parturient diseases e.g. mastitis.
Loose faeces with excessive faecal soiling of hindquarters. Closer examination of the faeces may revela fibrin casts, undigested cereal grains and long fibres. Cows swishing their tails when there are no flies due to gut and or urine irritation. Reduction in milk butterfat. Reduction in milk yoeld. with cows not milking to expectation. REduction in DMI. Individual animals variably go off their food with a consequent reduction in milk yeild. Cows spilling their cud whilts ruminating. Increased incidence of nutritional-related diseases, such as NEB/acetonaemia, LDAs, poor fertility, lameness and other peri-parturient diseases e.g. mastitis.
The major clinical manifestation is reduced or cyclic feed intake, or both. Other associated signs include decreased efficiency of milk production, reduced fat test, poor body condition score despite adequate energy intake, unexplained diarrhea, and episodes of laminitis. High rates of culling or unexplained deaths may be noted in the herd. Sporadic nosebleeds due to caudal vena cava syndrome may also be observed. The clinical signs are delayed and insidious. Actual episodes of low ruminal pH are not identified; in fact, by the time an animal is observed to be off-feed, its ruminal pH has probably been restored to normal. Diarrhea may follow periods of low ruminal pH; however, this finding is subtle and difficult to evaluate.
The major clinical manifestation is reduced or cyclic feed intake, or both. Other associated signs include decreased efficiency of milk production, reduced fat test, poor body condition score despite adequate energy intake, unexplained diarrhea, and episodes of laminitis. High rates of culling or unexplained deaths may be noted in the herd. Sporadic nosebleeds due to caudal vena cava syndrome may also be observed. The clinical signs are delayed and insidious. Actual episodes of low ruminal pH are not identified; in fact, by the time an animal is observed to be off-feed, its ruminal pH has probably been restored to normal. Diarrhea may follow periods of low ruminal pH; however, this finding is subtle and difficult to evaluate.
One consequence of feeding excessive amounts of rapidly fermentable carbohydrates in conjunction with inadequate fiber to ruminants is subacute ruminal acidosis, characterized by periods of low ruminal pH, depressed feed intake, and subsequent health problems. Chronic disease conditions secondary to subacute ruminal acidosis can negate the production gains accomplished by high grain feeding. Dairy cattle, feedlot cattle, and feedlot sheep are all at high risk for developing this condition. Although dairy cattle are typically fed diets that are higher in forage and fiber compared with feedlot animals, this advantage is offset by their much higher dry-matter intakes.
===Pathology===
===Pathology===