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Y4 FA - GIT and nutrition > Sub-acute ruminal acidosis (SARA) > Flashcards

Sub-acute ruminal acidosis (SARA) Flashcards

1
Q

Microbial fermentation of carbohydrates produces?

A

Volatile fatty acids

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2
Q

What substances are involved in rumen acidosis?

A
  • Excessive concentrates
  • Insufficient fibre
  • D lactic acid: Cannot be metabolised so builds up
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3
Q

Rumen pH should be between?

A

6 - 7

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4
Q

What happens when the rumen pH is too low?

A

Kills bug populations
Encourages growth of lactobacilli - produce lactic acid which cannot be metabolised
Decreased efficiency of digestion
Undigested particles lead to osmotic diarrhoea

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5
Q

How does osmotic diarrhoea affect the colon?

A

Colon acidosis - damages colon wall - fibrin casts in faeces

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6
Q

Describe the steps involved in acidosis developing in the rumen

A
  1. Reduced saliva flow and rapid carbohydrate digestion
  2. Lead to decreased rumen pH
  3. Carbohydrate digestion decreases, energy yield from digestion decreases
  4. Microbial activity falls, lactic acid producing microbes increases
  5. Lactic acid production
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7
Q

List the factors that affect the rumen pH

A
  • How much acid (VFA’s) produced.
  • Type of acid produced – lactic acid = strong
  • Rate of fermentation.
  • Rate of acid removal (across the rumen wall - papillae)
  • Buffering by saliva – chewing the cud.
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8
Q

How is the rumen wall and papillae growth affected by dry cow nutrition?

A

Dry cow nutrition & transition diet:
- Encourages papillae growth
- Get the “right bugs”

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9
Q

How does a low pH affect the rumen wall and papillae?

A

Low pH – destroys papillae – rumenitis
“Vicious cycle”
SARA bout predisposes to another SARA bout

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10
Q

When is saliva produced?

A

When chewing long fibre - cudding

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11
Q

What buffering substance does saliva contain?

A

Sodium bicarbonate

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12
Q

What % of cows in a herd should be cudding at one time?

A

70%

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13
Q

Why is long fibre important in the diet?

A
  1. Encourages cudding - Bicarbonate buffers acid
  2. Forms a rumen mat
    - Keeps food particles in rumen to be digested
    - Home to the bugs: biofilms
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14
Q

List the risk factors for SARA

A
  • insufficient long fibre in the diet
  • inaccurate DM estimation
  • overmixing of total mixed ration
  • excessive feeding of sugars and starches
  • poor dry cow management
  • food deprivation and irregular feeding
  • poor cow comfort
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15
Q

Is SARA a herd or individual problem?

A

Herd - 30% of animals at risk
- nutritional disorder
- overall poor health

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16
Q

If an animal has SARA how will their faeces appear

A

Loose and soft
Will see undigested grains
Will see them swishing tails due to sore bums

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17
Q

What are the effects of SARA on a cow

A
  • Reduced DMI
  • Reduced digestibility (NEB)
  • Immunosuppression -> increased diseases susceptibility
  • Poor yields
  • Reduced milk quality
  • Adverse health effects
  • Reduced fertility
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18
Q

What adverse heath effects are linked to SARA

A
  • Displaced abomasum
  • Ketosis
  • Lameness (sub-acute clinical laminitis)
  • Mastitis (dirty cows)
  • Infections
19
Q

When diagnosing SARA what clues may be lead to this being higher on the differentials

A

Fertility
Lameness
Ketosis
LDA
Faeces
‘‘Odd sick cows”

20
Q

When observing a group for suspected SARA what should you observe?

A

Cudding
Rumen fill
Tail swishing
Dirt score
Condition Score

21
Q

How can faeces be examined to help diagnose SARA?

A

Score 1- 5
Sieve faeces

22
Q

Describe sieving faeces for SARA diagnosis

A
  • Sieve faeces under running water.
  • Fibre should be less than ½” long.
  • No or little undigested grain.
  • Fibre over 1.25cm long.
  • Undigested grains.
  • Mucus casts
23
Q

What do mucus casts indicate?

A

Colon inflammation

24
Q

Describe how you would measure rumen pH

A
  • herd test
  • take 2 samples, 4 hours after feeding
  • restrain cow (nose and tail)
  • clip and scrub
  • LA
  • 3 – 5” needle – 16G – 18G.
  • Read sample immediately
25
Q

Where is the site to insert the needed to gain a rumen sample

A

Level of stifle & 6 – 8” behind last rib

26
Q

Describe which cows you would collect from for rumen sampling within a herd

A
  • Cows calved 14-21d ago: assesses transition and early diet
  • Cows calved 60-80d ago: assesses overall diet quality
  • Sample from both groups, 6 cows from each
  • Diagnosis confirmed when 2 cows from either group are below the pH threshold
26
Q

Describe which cows you would collect from for rumen sampling within a herd

A
  • Cows calved 14-21d ago: assesses transition and early diet
  • Cows calved 60-80d ago: assesses overall diet quality
  • Sample from both groups, 6 cows from each
  • Diagnosis confirmed when 2 cows from either group are below the pH threshold
27
Q

What happens if fibre is cut too long?

A

Cows will sort it from the total mixed ration

28
Q

What is the maximum ratio of concentrate : fodder you would want your cows to have?

A

60:40 max

29
Q

Grass silage quality depends on what factors?

A
  • Grass type
  • First or second cut
  • Time of day - pm best for sugars
  • Moisture content
  • Chop length
  • Compaction in clamp
  • Fermentation
30
Q

List some factors of maize silage as a feed

A
  • High energy 11 – 11.5 ME
  • High starch – fermentable metabolisable energy
  • Low protein (8 – 9%)
  • Fibre: Short & pulverised
  • Ineffective as source of long fibre - So feed straw with it
31
Q

List some features of concentrate feed

A

High FME
High proteins
No fibre

32
Q

What is a disadvantage of parlour cake feed linked to SARA

A

Parlour cake fed reduces intake of TMR and thus fibre

33
Q

Is acute ruminal acidosis an individual or herd problem?

A

Can be individuals

34
Q

Describe the pathophysiology of acute ruminal acidosis

A
  1. Excessive acid production
  2. pH falls below 5.0
  3. Lactic acid production predominates
  4. “Lactic acid eating bugs” killed off
  5. Cow cannot metabolise ‘d’ lactate
35
Q

What type of diet leads to acute ruminal acidosis?

A

Overeating grain - barley poisoning
Sudden introduction of high levels of grain

36
Q

How is acute ruminal acidosis diagnosed?

A

Often a group problem
Will see varying degrees of severity - From mild ataxia to recumbency and shock

37
Q

What are the clinical signs of acute ruminal acidosis?

A
  • Distended rumen - bloat
  • Ataxia
  • Diarrhoea: profuse and smelly
  • Depression
  • Recumbency and shock
38
Q

How can you treat mild acute ruminal acidosis?

A

Give hay to eat and observe

39
Q

How can you treat sub-acute ruminal acidosis?

A

Oral antacids
- Magnesium hydroxide or carbonate (500g),
- Feed hay

40
Q

How can you treat per-acute ruminal acidosis?

A

Rumenotomy – empty rumen contents
5 litres 5% sodium bicarbonate i/v
Continue with balanced fluids for 12 – 24 h

41
Q

How can you prevent acute rumen acidosis

A
  • Close the door on the food store !!
  • Care with introduction of grain to fattening animals
  • Good fibre source
  • Correct mixing of diets
42
Q

Describe a rumenotomy procedure

A
  • Lifesaving – emergency surgery
  • Recumbent animal
  • 18” incision at least
  • Pack towels around
  • Open rumen and empty of all contents
  • Not a sterile operation !!!

Y4 FA - GIT and nutrition (11 decks)

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