Rumen acidosis
The rumen acidosis or acidification of the rumen is a metabolic disorder in ruminants due to structure poor feeding , by a rapidly decreasing pH value is marked (below 5.8). At pH values between 5.2 and 5.8 one speaks of a subacute rumen acidosis, which usually remains without clinical symptoms. The opposite of rumen acidosis is rumen alkalosis .
Symptoms
In lighter cases, the feed intake is reduced and thus the performance is also lower. In moderate cases, food intake stops, the milk dries up and severe digestive disorders such as colic and diarrhea occur, as well as indifference , swaying and lameness . In severe cases, the animals are stuck and even die if they are not treated. Cerebral cortical necrosis can occur as a result of a secondary thiamine deficiency .
causes
A common cause is too high a proportion of concentrate feed in the total feed ration. Since the carbohydrates obtained here are too easy to digest, the microbial breakdown of starch produces large amounts of short-chain fatty acids . The decisive factor for the formation is, above all, the increased amount of lactic acid (lactate) that is produced due to incorrect fermentation , which with an acid constant of 3.8 has a significantly more acidic effect than fatty acids. In addition, the activity of rumination decreases, which means that too little alkaline saliva gets into the rumen and the rumen contents become acidic. There is a possibility that the small organisms in the rumen will die and the feed will be poorly digested.
Treatment and prevention
The administration of good hay and, above all, sodium bicarbonate for neutralization serve both for treatment and for prevention . Furthermore, no more than 250 to 300 g of concentrated feed per kg of milk yield should be fed. The optimal crude fiber content of a ration is 18 to 20% of the dry matter , in a total mixed ration the crude fiber content should not be below 16%. The crude fiber provides the so-called "pecking effect" in the rumen; physical stimuli are exerted which stimulate the mixed movements of the rumen ( rumen motor skills ) and thus counteract excess acidity of the rumen.
A veterinarian should be consulted in moderate and severe cases.