Cattle acidosis

Acidosis in cows is a disease that is characterized by acidification of the rumen, metabolic disorders and digestion. Most often, the problem occurs in individuals with high productivity in the spring and summer, when feeding of animals is most intense.

Causes

The disease develops due to the large accumulation of lactic acid in the rumen. This problem is caused by an unbalanced diet with excessive consumption of carbohydrates, which quickly ferment. Most often, cattle acidosis develops due to heavy feeding of oats, rye, barley, potatoes, watermelons, and grain concentrates. At the same time, the animals’ diet does not contain roughage - hay, straw. The provoking factor is often a sudden transition to concentrates, acidic silage or feeding feed with individual ingredients.

This leads to the active development of microflora in the forestomach that produces lactic acid. Its excess leads to the destruction of normal microflora.

Development

The process develops quickly - within a few hours. Acidification of the ruminal environment leads to disruption of the proventriculus. An excess of lactate is formed, which causes:

• pressure increases in the rumen;
• water-salt metabolism is disrupted;
• blood thickens;
• the body becomes dehydrated;
• dystrophic phenomena occur in the liver;
• the kidneys and spleen are affected;
• the NERVOUS SYSTEM and muscles suffer .

If left untreated, the disease is fraught with damage to the rumen mucosa, dehydration of the body, and a concentration of carbon dioxide in the rumen, which, when released into the blood, leads to paralysis.

Symptoms of acidosis in cows

In its acute form, the disease begins to manifest itself 6-12 hours after feeding.

• Individuals refuse food, are apathetic, and move little.
• Scar movements weaken and may disappear completely (hypotonia/atonia).
• The chewing gum stops appearing.
• The animal grinds its teeth.
• A slight tremor is felt in the muscles.
• When palpating the abdomen, the scar is dense and swollen.
• Tachycardia develops with rapid breathing.
• In most cases, there is diarrhea accompanied by dehydration.
• In lactating individuals, MILK volume and quality decrease.
• Without treatment, the disease often ends in paralysis and death.

The chronic form, as a rule, occurs with the constant presence of feed in the animal’s diet, leading to acidification of the rumen. In such cases, rumen acidosis in cows can last for several weeks without exacerbation. The course of the disease is characterized by lameness due to the inflammatory process of the subcutaneous tissues of the extremities.

• Ulcers form in the claw area;
• hyperkeratosis/parakeratosis of the scar may develop;
• chronic inflammation of the mucous membranes of the scar;
• immunity decreases ;
• developsmastitis ;
• There may be a liver abscess.

Diagnostics

One of the obvious signs of pathology is a decrease in rumen pH to less than 5.2. The pH of the blood also decreases - less than 7.35. The level of lactic acid in the blood can exceed the norm (9-13 mg%) by 3-4 times. Such an environment negatively affects the transport of oxygen. Therefore, first of all, laboratory diagnostics of blood and scar contents are carried out.

Treatment of acidosis in cows

Foods that cause disease are removed from the diet. If the disease is acute, the scar must be washed with a special probe. In severe cases, a rumenotomy operation will be required - opening and cleaning the scar from toxic masses. If the rumen is swollen, rumenotors, laxatives, and antifoams may be needed.

They use drugs with a stimulating effect, for example, “Caffeine-sodium benzoate 20%”. it helps improve water and nitrogen metabolism, increases gas exchange, and activates the heart.

The most important task is to normalize the pH in the digestive tract of a sick animal. To do this, we recommend using sodium bicarbonate orally and intravenously.

Prevention

To avoid pathology, you need to carefully build animal feeding schemes and follow the structure of diets that support optimal rumen microflora.