Abstract
A total number of five sheep were used in cross over design with an interval of three weeks for induction of lactic acidosis with sucrose, and treated with sodium bicarbonate as antacid, yeast as probiotics and gentian root powder as medicinal herbs. The acidoteic sheep showed significant (P<0.05) decrease in body temp, significant increase in respiratory rate, pulse rate and reduction of ruminal movement with depression, weakness, semisolid feces and stand with their head held lowered. There were significant changes in heamatobiochemical, ruminal parameters, these changes were more obvious at 24 hours after induction of acidosis. The clinical, heamatobiochemical, ruminal parameters of induced lactic acidosis were improved rapidly post-treatment with sodium bicarbonate and yeast, whereas these parameters showed slow improvement post treatment by gentian root powder. It was concluded that treatment of induced lactic acidosis in sheep by sodium bicarbonate and yeast give a good result and improve general health condition of the animal but it?s preferable for treatment of lactic acidosis using a combination of both sodium bicarbonate and live yeast as sodium bicarbonate raise the ruminal pH rapidly and yeast stabilizes it. Treatment of lactic acidosis by oral administration of freshly grated gentian root showed slow improvement, so further investigation must be done before using gentian root alone in treating lactic acidosis.
Highlights
Acute ruminal acidosis is the most dramatic forms of ruminal microbial fermentative disorders and in some cases is lethal in less than 24 hours
Addition of yeast culture to the basal diet may alleviate the effect of acidosis that normally resulted in the depression in feed intake as live yeast and other bacterial cell species adhere to feed particles to support ruminal fermentation (Kawas et al, 2007)
This study aimed to follow up the main clinical signs, haematobiochemical changes, and ruminal juice examination associated with induced lactic acidosis in sheep
Summary
Acute ruminal acidosis is the most dramatic forms of ruminal microbial fermentative disorders and in some cases is lethal in less than 24 hours. The severity of ruminal acidosis and disease signs vary considerably, depending on the amount and type of carbohydrate-rich feed consumed and the degree of prior ruminal microbial adaption to the carbohydrate substrate (Gentile et al, 2004). Clinical signs of acidosis are manifested by dullness, depression, anorexia, slight dehydration, ruminal stasis and pasty to semifluid intermittent diarrhea in sheep. Additives or products as sodium bicarbonate that buffer rumen pH may prevent acidosis and improve the productive performance of feedlot animals that consume high-grain diets (Wallace and Newbold, 1993). Gentian is stated to possess bitter, gastric stimulant, sialogogue and cholagogue properties It has been used for anorexia, atonic dyspepsia and gastrointestinal atony. The German Commission approved use for digestive disorders such as loss of appetite, fullness and flatulence (Schulz et al, 2000)
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