How to prevent rumen malfunction in times of stress

Ruminal dysfunction, or atony, is a very common condition in cattle and sheep following sudden dietary changes or during stressful periods, such as after lambing/calving, transport or transition.

The rumen is the animal’s boiler house, so if it’s malfunctioning, it will have a knock-on impact on the animal’s health as a whole, Dr Barragry explains.

Impacts of stasis

In cases of ruminal atony or stasis, the rumen fails to churn and mix its contents properly, which is essential for efficient digestion.

The surplus of lactic acid produced reduces the pH of the rumen, making it more acidic, creating a hostile medium where most of the useful and beneficial organisms cannot grow and flourish, and other non-functional microbes can proliferate.

This prevents the digestive processes within the rumen and the beneficial microbes can no longer form protein, glucose or volatile fatty acids (VFAs), Dr Barragry explains.

In acute cases, acidosis can lead to sub-acute ruminal acidosis (SARA).

Lactic acidosis also draws water into the rumen and causes dehydration and depression in the animal.

The acid itself can cause ulcers to appear in the lining of the rumen which impacts absorption of nutrients.

Rumen atony can occur following infectious or metabolic diseases, transportation, bad weather, post-calving problems, metritis, post-antibiotic therapy, or during periods of stress or dietary change.

Dietary change and feed problems are among the most common contributors.

Signs of rumen malfunction are often under the radar and can be difficult to identify. If the animal is palpated the rumen has a dough-like consistency.

The animal loses condition quickly, is listless, inappetant and may have mild diarrhoea, but there are no significant symptoms, so prevention is better than cure.

Healthy rumen

Avoidance of stress and sudden changes of diet are advised, as well as having a healthy animal that’s well supplied with vitamins and minerals.

Key vitamins include cobalt and vitamin B – as the rumen manufactures vitamin B and vitamin B12 from cobalt – as well as vitamin D, copper and iron.

Rumen Stimulant from Provita is specially formulated to prevent and manage rumen malfunction and also contains essential vitamins and minerals.

Dr Barragry advises that the product be administered after any stressful or significant event such as peak lactation, pre- and post-transition, post-calving/lambing, dietary changes or transport/movement, as any stress can have an adverse effect on rumen function.

It comes in sachets and can be added to feed, or oral dosing is available.

How does it work?

Rumen Stimulant contains sodium bicarbonate which neutralises the excess acid in the rumen and normalises the rumen environment, he continues.

Secondly it contains yeast extract which promotes the growth of beneficial microorganisms in the rumen. Importantly, it contains Amaferm, which many other rumen stimulants do not.

It’s an EFSA-approved prebiotic feed additive which increases the rumen flora by 80%, elevates the rumen pH, and increases digestive enzyme activity.

It works in synergy with the yeast to benefit the rumen flora. Amaferm has been fed with beneficial results to sheep and dairy cows for many years and its effects have been shown in more than 100 scientifically published peer reviewed international studies.

It is a natural fermentation product of the Aspergillus oryzae fungus. Research in sheep has shown Amaferm to increase average daily gain by 10% and overall weight gain by 5%.

It increases microbial protein in the rumen by 30% and volatile fatty acids by 15%.

Rumen Stimulant also contains vitamins A, D, B and E to counteract the vitamin deficit, stimulate appetite and promote immunity and metabolism, as well as cobalt for vitamin B12 formation (which stimulates red blood cells), and iron to counteract anaemia and promote energy.

Vitamin A is particularly useful as it’s responsible for developing a healthy lining of the gut and respiratory tract, as well as encouraging animals to eat and drink.

Sugar is an important addition to the product as it supplies immediate energy to the animal, counteracting the drop in glucose production.

Amino acids, meanwhile, are supplied in high concentrations to stimulate protein production, which is impacted when the rumen malfunctions.

The overall effect of the product is to quickly rebalance and restore normal rumen function, increase appetite, enhance digestive and absorptive processes, and to promote health, energy and vitality, Dr Barragry concludes.

Contact Provita directly for more information on Rumen Stimulant.

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