Acidosis & LMFS Flashcards
What happens to the pH of the rumen when fed poor quality roughage?
Increases d/t lack of VFA production, protein breakdown (bases), continued ingestion of saliva (bicarbonate)
What is the normal rumen pH on grass/hay
6-7
Lower the pKa, the _______ the acid
Stronger
Lactate has a pKa that is ____________ than VFAs
Lower
Describe the relationship between papillae length and absorption
Longer papillae increase surface area within the rumen, which increases absorption of acids
What happens to rumen motility as pH decreases?
Impaired
As you transition from a higher forage to a higher grain diet, what happens to our VFA levels?
Propionate increases! Acetate will stay the same
What is simple indigestion?
Abrupt change in ration causes a self correcting upset tummy
As pH decreases, what happens to the state of VFAs?
Shift to undissociated (unionized) state, which should increase absorption
Unionized VFAs absorbed better than ionized
What is rumen acidosis?
Excess grain enhances lactic acid production leading to non-physiologic pH levels
What happens to the bugs in the rumen as the pH starts to drop?
Protozoa die
Lactate users die
Rumen osmolality ________, which leads to fluid being drawn into the rumen
Increases
Pulling fluid into the rumen leads to systemic ___________ and ________
Dehydration and acidosis
Explain why feedlot steers commonly get liver abscesses
Feedlot steers on high grain diets are predisposed to rumen acidosis
Lactic acid production corrodes the wall of the rumen
Bacteria translocate through the corroded wall to the liver
Liver abscess forms
Treatment for acute acidosis
10% BW isotonic Na bicarbonate or hypertonic Na bicarbonate IV
Rumen lavage or rumenotomy
Oral buffers or alkalinizing agents: bicarb or mag ox
Systemic antibiotics (penicillins or tetracyclines)
