Acidosis is a disease that develops in cattle due to excessive production of lactic acid in the rumen. A shift in the acid-base balance occurs in the body, the animal loses its appetite and becomes lethargic. The farmer must know about the causes of rumen acidosis in cows, symptoms and treatment methods in order to prevent possible complications in time. The diet of cattle should contain a large amount of roughage to prevent acidosis.
Features of the disease
Rumen acidosis is a very common pathology among cattle, which occurs when the rules of animal feeding are not followed. The increase in the number of cases of acidosis is explained by the widespread use of silage-concentrated diets by farmers.
The diet of cattle must include roughage (hay, straw with long-fiber fiber). When using acidic, wet feed, low-quality hay and silage, the pH level in the rumen decreases (to 5.2-5.5), as a result of which milk yield falls, the quality of milk deteriorates, and livestock are prematurely culled.
High levels of butyric acid accumulate in silage when it is dominated by wet or contaminated grass material. Protein breakdown occurs, cows do not receive enough energy, lactic acid predominates in the rumen, and the volume of rumen contents decreases.
Harmful substances released when bacteria die are transported through the blood to the internal organs, causing inflammatory processes. Due to a sharp decrease in blood glucose levels, fatty liver syndrome and ketosis (the result of the production of glucose from fat stores) can develop. Chronic acidosis causes inflammation of the tissue under the hoof horn - laminitis.
Causes of acidosis in cattle
Ruminal acidosis develops in cattle for the following reasons:
- excess sugar and starch in feed;
- the use of finely ground feed leads to a reduction in the time of chewing food and a decrease in pH levels;
- increased feed moisture causes a decrease in the duration and activity of chewing gum;
- the use of too acidic feeds and concentrates - in particular, silage containing more than 2.5% acids;
- a sharp change in the feed menu - lack of a smooth transition when opening a new trench of haylage and silage (less than 1-1.5 weeks);
- poor quality of feed;
- deficiency of vitamins and minerals - lack of calcium, phosphorus, cobalt, selenium, magnesium, iodine, vitamins A, D, E leads to the death of beneficial microflora and deterioration of food digestion.
To avoid the development of acidosis, it is not recommended to quickly transfer cows from a diet of dry animals to a milking menu that includes a large volume of concentrates, or to introduce an excess of sour pulp, stillage, molasses, wheat and barley grains into the menu.
Main symptoms and forms of pathology
Most often, signs of acidosis develop in cows when farmers improperly prepare animals for calving - a sharp transition to a post-calving diet, an increased content of sugar and starch in feed, and a deficiency of structural fiber.
Acute degree
An acute form of acidosis develops with a rapid and sharp increase in the volume of concentrates in the cows' menu. If animals consume a lot of easily digestible carbohydrates, the level of lactic acid in the rumen increases significantly, and the pH drops below 6. Manifested by severe symptoms:
- prolonged diarrhea;
- risk of developing dehydration;
- necrotization of scar microflora with the risk of internal poisoning.
Acute acidosis is easily diagnosed and treated more quickly.
Subacid (subacute)
The subacute form of acidosis is the most dangerous for cows, since it manifests itself with very weak signs that inattentive farmers may not notice for a long time:
- lethargy;
- increased feeling of thirst;
- covering the tongue with a coating;
- periodic episodes of bloating;
- general body temperature is within normal limits.
As a result of prolonged subacute acidosis, the cow may develop complications such as anorexia, rumen atony, breathing and heart rhythm disturbances.
Permanent (chronic)
The chronic form of rumen acidosis is manifested by the following symptoms:
- indifferent behavior of the cow, lack of response to stimuli;
- malnutrition of feed or complete refusal of food;
- weakening of rumen motility;
- anemia of mucous membranes;
- bouts of diarrhea;
- reducing the volume of milk produced, reducing fat content;
- low rumen pH.
If therapeutic measures are not taken for a long time, chronic acidosis leads to kidney damage, the formation of an abscess in the liver, laminitis, ruminitis, damage and dystrophy of the heart muscle.
Diagnostic methods
To make a diagnosis of rumen acidosis, it is necessary to measure the pH level in one of the following ways:
- taking part of the feed from the cow’s mouth while chewing the cud - the method is not considered reliable, since the rumen contains a certain amount of saliva;
- using a probe;
- make a puncture in the rumen to take its liquid contents for analysis.
The veterinarian must not only detect symptoms of acidosis, but also confirm the diagnosis. In the chronic form of the disease, a shift in the acid-base balance manifests itself in the region of 5.2-5.6 for at least three hours a day.
How to cure the problem
In the acute form of acidosis, treatment should be started immediately, since within 1-2 days a serious illness can be fatal, and there is a high risk of developing laminitis, myocardial degeneration and liver abscess.
Veterinary assistance
It is customary to treat acute acidosis by washing the rumen with a gastric tube. In order to quickly restore the impaired functions of the forestomach, about three liters of rumen fluid taken from healthy animals are injected into the rumen.
To normalize pH values, sodium bicarbonate (at a concentration of 4%), Ringer-Locke solutions, and Trisol up to 800-1000 milliliters are administered intravenously. Baking soda is diluted and given to a sick animal to drink 7-8 times a day (150 grams of soda per 1 liter of water).
The method of treatment from V. A. Lochkarev is to use a trocar sleeve to inject into the accessible layers of the scar a solution of potassium permanganate in a volume of 3 liters, then 2.5 liters of 8% sodium bicarbonate solution. The solutions are administered at intervals of 4 hours until the cow’s condition improves. Afterwards, the trocar sleeve is removed, and the puncture area is treated with Tricillin.
Folk remedies
Using folk remedies, you can help the cow before the doctor arrives to make the animal feel better. It is useful to give her a solution of baking soda to drink (100 grams per 3 liters of water at room temperature). Immediately after the soda solution, the animal needs to drink 1 liter of vegetable oil. After the manipulations, to start the digestive function, it is necessary to massage the rumen.
Prevention of acidosis
To prevent acidosis, it is important to follow the rules for feeding cattle:
- introduce no more than 40-45% concentrates into the cows’ diet;
- provide cattle with at least 16% fiber per day;
- feed at least 2.5 kilograms of hay or straw per head daily;
- do not exceed the amount of easily digestible carbohydrates in the menu - up to 26% starch, up to 7% sugar;
- do not feed feed mixtures with humidity above 60%;
- transfer animals from one type of food to another gradually (within 2-4 weeks);
- give cattle grain fodder from cereals and legumes;
- introduce feed yeast into the diet.
In the summer, it is recommended to graze dry animals on pasture to normalize digestive function, metabolic processes, and improve immunity. It is important to monitor the quality of feed - it must be fresh, dried, and not contain elements of rot or mold.
The key to good digestion in cattle is proper feeding. To prevent rumen atony and changes in pH levels, it is useful to give enzyme preparations to cows, mixing them with feed (the dosage and duration of use is determined by the veterinarian). Periodically, a baking soda solution can be given to cattle to reduce the amount of acid in the rumen.
