In this study, the rumen metabolism of four ruminant species – blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra), barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia), sika deer (Cervus nippon dybowskii) and addax antelope (Addax nasomaculatus) – from the Nuremberg Zoo was investigated in relation to their feeding management. Parameters of microbial fermentation in the rumen as well as rumen tissue samples were examined. Additiona...

The objective of this study was to investigate whether cows diagnosed with claw horn lesions during routine claw trimming had an altered milk fat percentage on test days preceding the diagnosis, compared with cows without such lesions. Data included date of trimming, cow number, type, and location of claw lesions recorded by a professional claw trimmer during routine trimming sessions on 11 com...

The objective of this study was to determine the incidence, prevalence, severity, and risk factors for ruminal acidosis in feedlot steers during backgrounding, diet transition, and finishing. Steers were purchased from a local auction market (n = 250; mean ± SD; 330 ± 20.0 kg initial BW) and were grouped together with 28 steers fitted with a ruminal cannula (248 ± 25.5 kg initial BW). Steers we...

The objective of this study was to investigate the role of protein-mediated transport pathways for short-chain fatty acid flux across the ruminal epithelium, using subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) and feed restriction as models. Twenty-one Holstein steers (216.8 ± 31.4 kg BW) were individually housed and fed a total mixed ration (TMR) with a 50:50 forage:concentrate ad libitum for 5 d. After th...

Ruminal lactic acidosis is a condition that arises in ruminants due to the ingestion of excess quantities of easily digestible grains leading to diarrhea, anorexia and physiological derangements which can be fatal in severe cases. A clinical case of cow with history of rice flour ingestion showing signs of acute ruminal lactic acidosis was managed. The pH of ruminal fluid was 5.1. The number of...

BACKGROUND Acute ruminal lactic acidosis (ARLA) is a major nutritional and metabolic disorder usually characterized by excessive or non-adapted intake of diets rich in nonstructural carbohydrates. Feed additives that regulate the ruminal environment have been used to prevent ARLA, such as ionophores and, more recently, yeast culture. Thus, we aimed to compare the efficacy of a yeast-based cultu...