Abstract
Fifty two adult native breed Egyptian sheep were suffering from ruminal indigestion. The animals were divided into three groups, based on clinical signs and ruminal pH. The number of diseased cases with ruminal acidosis were 20, ruminal alkalosis 17 and those with ruminal tympany 15. In addition, 12 clinically adult sheep were used as control. Most cases with ruminal indigestion showed partial or complete anorexia, loss of body condition, abdominal pain, cessation of rumination and abdominal distension. Such signs differ according to the disease condition. Ruminal samples were collected from all animals and transferred to the laboratory for biophysical and biochemical analysis. All samples collected from diseased cases showed changes in the microbial activity as indicated by retardation in times of SAT, MBRT and CDT. Also, the values (m1) of GFT were increased especially in cases with ruminal tympany. All cases with ruminal dysfunction showed reduction in values and percentages of total and differential protozoal count. Biochemical analysis of ruminal fluid revealed variations in the values of sodium, potassium, chlorides and lactates among the types of indigestion.
Highlights
Sheep industry constitutes a major part of animal production in arid and semi-arid areas which represent more than 90% of the Egyptian land (Tawfik and Dighedy, 1980)
Biochemical analysis of ruminal fluid revealed a highly significant increase (p < 0.01) in the values of both chlorides and lactates associated with significant decrease in level of ruminal sodium (p
It could be concluded without doubt that, improper feeding, gazing or feeding on field stubbles or bad quality roughages and feeding on decayed or putrified materials as garbage are among the important factors causing ruminal disorders in sheep
Summary
Sheep industry constitutes a major part of animal production in arid and semi-arid areas which represent more than 90% of the Egyptian land (Tawfik and Dighedy, 1980). Rumen disorders had a great clinical interest because of the high morbidity and the great losses in both production and costs of treatment of affected ruminants. From the economic point of view, fore-stomach diseases result in great losses to the producers through deaths, wasted feed, delayed marketing unthriftness of the recovered animals, incomplete utilizing of diseaseprovoking food and extra labor costs of preventive and therapeutic measures (Kimberlin, 1988). Such a group of diseases are of the most serious and common problems that threaten the animal heath in our country. B- Evaluation the role of physico-chemical and microscopical characteristics of ruminal contents as a guide and tool for diagnosing ruminal dysfunction.
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