Selected ruminal variables and purine urinary excretion rate of steers subjected to feeding, fasting, and re-feeding conditions

The effects of feeding, fasting, and re-feeding on the ruminal profile of growing cattle were studied. Ruminal fluid and urine samples were obtained from 12 crossbred steers weighing approximately 300 kg during the following periods: 11 h of normal feeding (postprandial period), 48 consecutive hours of fasting, and followed by 48 h of re-feeding. Fasting promotes changes in the ruminal profile, such as an increase in ruminal pH, reduction in the number of rumen protozoa and bacteria, and decrease in the urinary excretion of allantoin; however, it does not change the urinary uric acid excretion rate. The overall mean ruminal pH was higher during fasting (7.53±0.27) in comparison to those at normal feeding (6.72±0.25) and re-feeding (6.62±0.31) (p⟨0.05). During re-feeding, the ruminal profile returned to normal, except for the protozoa count, which despite a slight increase only after 48 h of re-feeding, did not recover to baseline values.

Hypertonic saline solution (NaCl 7.2%) enhances renal excretion of acids in cattle with acute ruminal lactic acidosis

The present study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of hypertonic saline solution (HSS) as a novel treatment of acute ruminal lactic acidosis (ARLA) in cattle, focusing on urinary excretion of acids. Twelve cannulated steers were submitted to experimentally induced ARLA by adminis- tering sucrose into the rumen. Twenty hours later, the cattle were randomly divided into two equal groups. The first group was treated with 7.5% HSS (5 mL/kg) over 15 min, and isotonic saline solution (ISS; 20 mL/kg) for the subsequent 165 minutes. The control group was administered ISS instead of HSS. Rumen and urine samples were collected at different times during the experiment from the baseline to 64 h post-induction. The induction caused a medium-to-moderate ruminal acidosis, and a moderate degree of systemic acidosis and dehydration. Steers treated with HSS increased by 50% its glomerular filtration rate (1.61 mL/min) compared to ISS group (1.06 mL/ min; p⟨0.03). The overall volume of urine excreted by HSS group was higher than that in ISS group (1.62 L vs 0.7 L; p⟨0.02). This increase in total volume of urine provided by HSS favored a greater excretion of H+ ions in urine, which was 3.39-fold higher in HSS group (64.3*10-7 vs 18.9*10-7 Mol) as well as lactate (241.7 vs 181.8 mMol) and P urinary excretion (3.8 vs 1.1 mMol) that reduced the urine pH (5.3 vs 5.7). Only the HSS group decreased significantly blood total lactic acid concentration (20.3 %) throughout the treatment. A positive relationship was found between the excretion of urinary phosphorus and urinary pH (r2=0.562). The results showed that this novel treatment with HSS enhanced renal excretion of acids and may be recommended as an additional treatment for cattle with lactic acidosis.

Avaliação hemogasométrica, bioquímica e hematológica de ovinos suplementados com melão

RESUMOO presente trabalho avaliou os efeitos da administração de duas diferentes quantidades de melão sobre variáveis hemogasométricas, bioquímicas e hematológicas de ovinos não adaptados. Foram utilizados 12 ovinos canulados, pesando 25kg de peso vivo, que nunca receberam ração concentrada. Os animais receberam dieta à base de feno (2,3% do peso vivo) e água à vontade. Os ovinos foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em dois grupos e receberam 25% ou 75% da matéria seca (MS) da dieta de melão triturado (G25% e G75%, respectivamente) diretamente no rúmen. Foram realizadas coletas de sangue e determinação do pH ruminal nos seguintes tempos: zero, 3, 6, 12, 18 e 24 horas após oferecimento do melão. Foi realizada análise hemogasométrica, do volume globular, determinação da concentração plasmática de lactato-L, glicose e osmolaridade sérica. No G25%, o pH sanguíneo variou entre 7,40 e 7,31, enquanto o G75% apresentou pH entre 7,38 e 7,26. Maiores concentrações de glicose plasmática foram detectadas no G75% no T3, T6 e T12 (P<0,05). Os ovinos que receberam 25% de melão mantiveram parâmetros sanguíneos dentro da normalidade, ao passo que, no G75%, os ovinos apresentaram discreta acidose metabólica sistêmica e hiperglicemia. A suplementação com 25% de melão pode ser uma alternativa segura na alimentação de ovinos.

Ammonia toxicity from urea in a Brazilian dairy goat flock

A flock of goats received a diet with 1% urea for at least 1 y. A new batch of concentrate was offered increasing the level of urea to 4.2%. Eighteen of 54 goats showed acute signs of ammonia toxicosis. Ten goats died within 60 min; 4 goats and a buck with convulsions recovered when treated by administration of vinegar and infusion of saline solution, diuretics, and atropine. Three goats with mild signs recovered within 1 h without treatment. The mean ammonia concentration and rumen pH content were 820 mg/L and 7.7, respectively. Generalized congestion, intense pulmonary edema, and slight tubular nephrosis were found in 3 goats on necropsy. The outbreak was self-limiting and no more cases occurred when the diet was removed.

Botulism outbreak associated with poultry litter consumption in three Brazilian cattle herds

One hundred fifty-five of 201 cattle from 3 different farms showed clinical signs and died of botulism after eating the same batch of poultry litter contaminated with poultry and rodent carcasses. The cattle had access to poultry litter for only 1 d; afterwards it was removed from the diet. Death occurred over a period of 17 d after the poultry litter intake. The peak mortality was on day 4; 20 animals died within 10 d of the ingestion. The greater the intake of poultry litter, the higher the cattle mortality. Three steers which died on the first day had peracute effects while the remaining cattle showed classical signs. Twenty-five of the 46 surviving cattle had mild clinical signs, but recovered in a few days. Type C Clostridium botulinum toxin was found in extracts of the poultry litter, carcasses and cattle intestinal contents. Nutrient composition of the poultry litter was normal but pH was lower (6.9) than usual (7.5 to 9.3).