Ruminal Acidosis Part I: Clinical manifestations, epidemiology and impact of the disease

Voulgarakis, N; Gougoulis, D; Psalla, D; Papakonstantinou, G; Angelidou-Tsifida, M; Papatsiros, V; Athanasiou, LV; Christodoulopoulos, G

doi:10.12681/jhvms.31237

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 83 publications

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“…Lactic acid damages the rumen wall and, in doing so, passively enters the bloodstream, causing changes in the liver, lungs, heart valves, kidneys, and joints. If the increased carbohydrate intake persists for long enough, harmful substances damage the capillary system of the organism, making SARA the most significant predisposing factor for the development of laminitis [ 37 , 38 ]. Nowadays, the loss of body condition due to, e.g., ketosis is considered to be much more related to laminitis or claw-horn disruption [ 39 ].…”

Section: Subacute Ruminal Acidosismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The greatest risk for the onset of the disorder is within 60 days after calving. In most animals, only transient rumen hypotonia is observed, accompanied by a slightly reduced appetite and less frequent rumination [ 38 ]. A more evident clinical sign of subacute ruminal acidosis, noticeable at the herd level, is reduced feed intake (when the pH value of the rumen content drops below 5.5), decreased milk production, reduced milk fat content in the milked milk, poor body condition of cattle despite a nutritionally well-balanced diet, sudden diarrhea, and the onset of laminitis.…”

Section: Subacute Ruminal Acidosismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Laminitis is often described as one of the symptoms of subclinical ruminal acidosis. It can be acute, subacute, or chronic [ 38 ]. Recognizing the initial signs of subclinical ruminal acidosis and subclinical laminitis is a significant challenge for the dairy industry.…”

Section: Subacute Ruminal Acidosismentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Most Important Metabolic Diseases in Dairy Cattle during the Transition Period

Tufarelli,

Puvača,

Glamočić

et al. 2024

Animals

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This review paper provides an in-depth analysis of three critical metabolic diseases affecting dairy cattle such as subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA), ketosis, and hypocalcemia. SARA represents a disorder of ruminal fermentation that is characterized by extended periods of depressed ruminal pH below 5.5–5.6. In the long term, dairy herds experiencing SARA usually exhibit secondary signs of the disease, such as episodes of laminitis, weight loss and poor body condition despite adequate energy intake, and unexplained abscesses usually 3–6 months after an episode of SARA. Depressed milk-fat content is commonly used as a diagnostic tool for SARA. A normal milk-fat test in Holstein dairy cows is >4%, so a milk-fat test of <3% can indicate SARA. However, bulk tank testing of milk fat is inappropriate to diagnose SARA at the herd level, so when >4 cows out of 12 and <60 days in milk are suspected to have SARA it can be considered that the herd has a problem. The rapid or abrupt introduction of fresh cows to high-concentrate diets is the most common cause of SARA. Changes in ruminal bacterial populations when exposed to higher concentrate rations require at least about 3 weeks, and it is recommended that concentrate levels increase by no more than 400 g/day during this period to avoid SARA. Ketosis, a prevalent metabolic disorder in dairy cattle, is scrutinized with a focus on its etiological factors and the physiological changes leading to elevated ketone bodies. In total mix ration-fed herds, an increased risk of mastitis and reduced fertility are usually the first clinical signs of ketosis. All dairy cows in early lactation are at risk of ketosis, with most cases occurring in the first 2–4 weeks of lactation. Cows with a body condition score ≥3.75 on a 5-point scale at calving are at a greater risk of ketosis than those with lower body condition scores. The determination of serum or whole blood acetone, acetoacetate, beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentration, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), and liver biopsies is considered the best way to detect and monitor subclinical ketosis, while urine or milk cowside tests can also be used in on-farm monitoring programs. Concentrations >1.0 mmol/L or 1.4 mmol/L blood or serum BHB are considered diagnostic of subclinical ketosis. The standard threshold used for blood is 1.2 mmol/L, which corresponds to thresholds of 100 mcmol/L for milk and 15 mg/dL for urine. Oral administration of propylene glycol (250–400 g, every 24 h for 3–5 days) is the standard and most efficacious treatment, as well as additional therapy with bolus glucose treatment. Hypocalcemia is a disease of adult dairy cows in which acute hypocalcemia causes acute to peracute, afebrile, flaccid paralysis that occurs most commonly at or soon after parturition. Dairy cows are at considerable risk for hypocalcemia at the onset of lactation, when daily calcium excretion suddenly increases from about 10 g to 30 g per day. Cows with hypocalcemia have a more profound decrease in blood calcium concentration—typically below 5.5 mg/dL. The prevention of parturient paresis has been historically approached by feeding cows low-calcium diets during the dry period. Negative calcium balance triggers calcium mobilization before calving and better equips the cow to respond to the massive calcium needs at the onset of lactation. Calcium intake must be limited to <20 g per day for calcium restriction to be effective. The most practical and proven method for monitoring hypocalcemia is by feeding cows an acidogenic diet for ~3 weeks before calving. Throughout the review, emphasis is placed on the importance of early diagnosis and proactive management strategies to mitigate the impact of these metabolic diseases on dairy cattle health and productivity. The comprehensive nature of this paper aims to serve as a valuable resource for veterinarians, researchers, and dairy farmers seeking a deeper understanding of these prevalent metabolic disorders in dairy cattle.

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Section: Subacute Ruminal Acidosismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Subacute Ruminal Acidosismentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Most Important Metabolic Diseases in Dairy Cattle during the Transition Period

Tufarelli,

Puvača,

Glamočić

et al. 2024

Animals

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“…2 with a pH consistently lower than 5.8 for at least four hours per day [3][4][5][6][7]. SARA results in economic losses due to reduced milk production and lower milk fat content [6,8,9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Subacute Rumen Acidosis in Greek Dairy Sheep: Prevalence, Impact, and Colorimetry Management

Voulgarakis,

Gougoulis,

Psalla

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Subacute rumen acidosis (SARA) is a prevalent issue in intensive livestock farming, particularly associated with high-concentrate diets. This study investigates the prevalence and impact of SARA in Greek dairy sheep farming and explores the use of computerized rumen colorimetry as a management and diagnostic tool for SARA in dairy sheep farms. Forty-two dairy sheep flocks were monitored regularly for rumen pH, milk composition, and milk yield over an approximately 9-month milking period. Computerized Rumen Mucosal Colorimetry was applied to 280 culled, aged ewes from these farms, with rumen wall samples taken for histological examination. SARA cases were identified in 19 farms (45%, n=48). Farms with SARA cases had lower milk fat levels, although milk yield was higher in these farms, while milk protein levels did not differ based on the SARA status of the farms. In culled ewes, rumen color was significantly associated with the farm's SARA status. Additionally, ewes from farms with more SARA cases exhibited increased thickness in the ruminal epithelium layers, particularly in the non-keratinized and total epithelium layers. In conclusion, SARA is a common disorder in the Greek dairy sheep industry, lowering the fat content of milk. The study suggests that computerized rumen epithelium colorimetry in aged culled ewes shows promise as a diagnostic tool for SARA in dairy sheep farms.

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Subacute Rumen Acidosis in Greek Dairy Sheep: Prevalence, Impact and Colorimetry Management

Voulgarakis,

Gougoulis,

Psalla

et al. 2024

Animals

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Subacute rumen acidosis (SARA) is a current issue in intensive livestock farming, and it is particularly associated with feeding high-concentrate diets. This study investigated the prevalence and impact of SARA in forty-two Greek dairy sheep flocks by recording rumen pH, milk composition, and milk yield over a period of nine months. Moreover, it explored the use of computerized rumen colorimetry as a management and diagnostic tool for SARA in dairy sheep. In culled ewes, computerized rumen mucosal colorimetry was applied, and rumen wall samples taken for histological examination. SARA cases were identified in 19 farms (45%, n = 42). Farms with SARA cases had lower milk fat levels, while milk yield and milk protein levels did not differ based on the SARA status of the farms. In culled ewes, rumen color was significantly associated with the flock’s SARA status, and affected ewes showed increased thickness in non-keratinized and total epithelial layers. It was concluded that computerized rumen mucosal colorimetry in aged, culled ewes shows promise as an indicator, post mortem, of SARA present in dairy sheep flocks whose impact can be minimized by making significant changes in dietary management.

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Ruminal Acidosis Part I: Clinical manifestations, epidemiology and impact of the disease

Cited by 3 publications

References 83 publications

The Most Important Metabolic Diseases in Dairy Cattle during the Transition Period

The Most Important Metabolic Diseases in Dairy Cattle during the Transition Period

Subacute Rumen Acidosis in Greek Dairy Sheep: Prevalence, Impact, and Colorimetry Management

Subacute Rumen Acidosis in Greek Dairy Sheep: Prevalence, Impact and Colorimetry Management

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