{"id":7065,"date":"2015-10-26T12:38:08","date_gmt":"2015-10-26T12:38:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/?page_id=7065"},"modified":"2016-04-05T14:19:48","modified_gmt":"2016-04-05T13:19:48","slug":"ruminal-acidosis","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/disease-management\/sheep-diseases\/ruminal-acidosis\/","title":{"rendered":"Ruminal Acidosis"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><div class=\"printfriendly pf-button  pf-alignright\">\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/disease-management\/sheep-diseases\/ruminal-acidosis\/?pfstyle=wp\" rel=\"nofollow\" onclick=\"pfTrackEvent(&#039;Ruminal Acidosis&#039;); return false;\" title=\"Printer Friendly, PDF & Email\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"pf-button-img\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.printfriendly.com\/buttons\/printfriendly-pdf-email-button-notext.png\" alt=\"Print Friendly, PDF & Email\" style=\"width: 110px;height: 30px;\"  \/>\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/div><br \/>\n<h2>Sheep Diseases<\/h2><div id=\"gticontainer\"><div class=\"gti_clear\"><\/div><div id=\"gti_letterindex\"><ul><li><a href=\"#gti_all\">All<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_A\" href=\"#\">A<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_B\" href=\"#\">B<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_C\" href=\"#\">C<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_E\" href=\"#\">E<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_F\" href=\"#\">F<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_G\" href=\"#\">G<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_H\" href=\"#\">H<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_J\" href=\"#\">J<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_K\" href=\"#\">K<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_L\" href=\"#\">L<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_M\" href=\"#\">M<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_N\" href=\"#\">N<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_O\" href=\"#\">O<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_P\" href=\"#\">P<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_R\" href=\"#\">R<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_S\" href=\"#\">S<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_T\" href=\"#\">T<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_W\" href=\"#\">W<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"gti_clear\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tagindex\"><div id='gti_div_A'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_A'>A<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/acidosis-ruminal\/\">Acidosis - Ruminal<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/adenomatosis-pulmonary\/\">Adenomatosis - Pulmonary<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/arthritis-in-sheep\/\">Arthritis in Sheep<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_B'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_B'>B<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/barbers-pole-worm\/\">Barbers Pole Worm<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/sheep-blowfly-strike\/\">Blowfly Strike<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/border-disease\/\">Border Disease<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_C'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_C'>C<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/campylobacteriosis-2\/\">Campylobacteriosis<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/ccn\/\">CCN<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/cerebrocortical-necrosis\/\">Cerebrocortical necrosis<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/chlamydial-abortion\/\">Chlamydial Abortion<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/circling-disease\/\">Circling Disease<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/cobalt-deficiency-in-sheep\/\">Cobalt Deficiency<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/coccidiosis-in-lambs\/\">Coccidiosis<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/coenurosis\/\">Coenurosis<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/contagious-ecthyma\/\">Contagious Ecthyma<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/contagious-pustular-dermatitis\/\">Contagious Pustular Dermatitis<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/contagious-respiratory-tumours\/\">Contagious Respiratory Tumours<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/copper-poisoning\/\">Copper Poisoning<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/cryptosporidiosis-in-lambs\/\">Cryptosporidiosis<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_E'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_E'>E<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/e-coli-infection-in-lambs\/\">E. coli infection in lambs<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/eimeria-in-sheep\/\">Eimeria in sheep<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/encephalitis-listerial\/\">Encephalitis - Listerial<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/endoparasites-in-sheep\/\">Endoparasites in Sheep<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/enzootic-abortion-in-ewes\/\">Enzootic Abortion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_F'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_F'>F<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/fasciola-hepatica-in-sheep\/\">Fasciola<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/fly-strike\/\">Fly Strike<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/foot-abcess\/\">Foot Abcess<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/foot-rot\/\">Foot Rot<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_G'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_G'>G<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/granuloma\/\">Granuloma<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/grass-staggers-in-sheep\/\">Grass Staggers in sheep<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_H'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_H'>H<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/haemonchus\/\">Haemonchus contortus<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/hairy-shaker-lambs\/\">Hairy-shaker lambs<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/hypomagnesaemia-in-sheep\/\">Hypomagnesemia in Sheep<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_J'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_J'>J<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/jaagsiekte\/\">Jaagsiekte<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/joint-ill-sheep\/\">Joint-ill<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_K'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_K'>K<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/ketosis\/\">Ketosis<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_L'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_L'>L<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/listeriosis-in-sheep\/\">Listeriosis<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/liver-fluke-sheep\/\">Liver Fluke<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/louping-ill\/\">Louping-ill<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_M'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_M'>M<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/magnesium-deficiency-2\/\">Magnesium Deficiency<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/mange-psoroptic\/\">Mange - Psoroptic<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/myiasis\/\">Myiasis<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_N'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_N'>N<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/nematodirus\/\">Nematodirus battus<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_O'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_O'>O<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/orf\/\">Orf<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_P'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_P'>P<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/parasitic-gastroenteritis\/\">Parasitic Gastroenteritis<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/pen\/\">PEN<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/polioencephalomalacia\/\">Polioencephalomalacia<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/pregnancy-toxaemia-in-sheep\/\">Pregnancy Toxemia<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/pulmonary-adenomatosis\/\">Pulmonary Adenomatosis<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_R'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_R'>R<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/roundworm\/\">roundworm<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/roundworms-in-sheep\/\">Roundworms in Sheep<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/ruminal-acidosis\/\">Ruminal Acidosis<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_S'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_S'>S<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/scab\/\">Scab<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/scald\/\">Scald<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/sheep-scab\/\">Sheep Scab<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/shelly-hoof\/\">Shelly Hoof<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/suppurative-polyarthritis\/\">Suppurative Polyarthritis<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_T'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_T'>T<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/taenia-multiceps\/\">Taenia multiceps<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/teladorsagia-circumcincta\/\">Teladorsagia circumcincta<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/thiamine-deficiency\/\">Thiamine Deficiency<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/toxaemia\/\">Toxemia, Pregnancy<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/toxoplasmosis\/\">Toxoplasmosis<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/trichostrongylus\/\">Trichostrongylus<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_W'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_W'>W<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/watery-mouth-disease\/\">Watery Mouth Disease<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/white-line-separation\/\">White Line Separation<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/white-liver-disease\/\">White Liver Disease<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/worms-in-sheep\/\">Worms in Sheep<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<h4>Ruminal Acidosis<\/h4>\n<div class=\"two_third\"><strong>Ruminal acidosis is a dietary condition resulting from various degrees of over-eating on starchy foods, such as cereals and concentrate rations. Therefore, it often occurs under intensive sheep\u00a0finishing systems\u00a0(<a href=\"#ref\">Piercy and Kemp, 1990<\/a>). The degree of ruminal acidosis can vary from cases of indigestion with a mild watery scour to cases of sudden death or a very severe and distressing illness resulting in death (<a href=\"#ref\">Braun <em>et al<\/em>., 1992<\/a>). In more severe cases, the outlook is often poor and it may lead to complications, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/disease-management\/sheep-diseases\/pregnancy-toxaemia-in-sheep\/\" target=\"_blank\">pregnancy toxemia<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"hr hr3\" style='margin:20px 0px 20px 0px !important;'><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"one_third last\">\n<a class=\"button medium alternative-1\" title=\"Control and Prevention\" href=\"#control_prevention\">Control and Prevention<\/a><br \/>\n<a class=\"button medium alternative-1\" title=\"What are the treatment options?\" href=\"#treatment\">Treatment Options<\/a><br \/>\n<a class=\"button medium alternative-1\" title=\"Good Practice Based on Current Knowledge\" href=\"#good_practice\">Good Practice<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"clear\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"two_third\">Ruminal Acidosis is often caused by sudden changes of diet, such as the introduction of concentrates in late pregnancy, altering the composition of micro-organisms in the rumen . In North America ruminal acidosis is frequently seen in feedlot lambs and lactating or pregnant ewes that have experienced rapid changes in their ration (<a href=\"#ref\">Wolf, 2007<\/a>),\u00a0but it is unlikely to be seen in extensive grass-fed systems. In Mediterranean countries concentrate-based diets lead to cases of sub-acute acidosis (<a href=\"#ref\">Blanco <em>et al<\/em>., 2015<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>The rumen becomes more acidic than it should because concentrate-based diets increase <span class=\"tooltips\"><a href=\"#\" rel=\"tooltip\" title=\"Short-chained fatty acids produced by ruminal fermentation\">volatile fatty acids<\/a><\/span> production in the rumen, increasing the fraction of propionate and lactate which lowers the rumen pH (<a href=\"#ref\">Enemark, 2008<\/a>). An acidic rumen leads to inflammation or <span class=\"tooltips\"><a href=\"#\" rel=\"tooltip\" title=\"Inflammation of the rumen\">rumenitis<\/a><\/span> (<a href=\"#ref\">Patra <em>et al<\/em>., 1993<\/a>; <a href=\"#ref\">Piercy and Kemp, 1990<\/a>). This in turn causes diarrhea, dehydration and sometimes death. The energy metabolism in the liver of the animal may also be altered due to a limited availability of carbohydrate substrate (<a href=\"#ref\">Huber <em>et al<\/em>., 1984<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Clinical signs of mild sub-acute cases are diarrhea,\u00a0but with continued appetite. In more severe cases animals are depressed, they stop eating and are often found standing or lying with ears down and grinding their teeth, which is indicative of abdominal pain. Temperature is low, with rapid heart and respiratory rates and shallow breathing (<a href=\"#ref\">Braun <em>et al<\/em>., 1992<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"control_prevention\"><\/a>If animal health is threatened by a disease, as in the case of rumen acidosis, the risk of associated disorders increases for example, parakeratosis-rumenitis, liver abscesses, laminitis (<a href=\"#ref\">Penner <em>et al<\/em>., 2011<\/a>) and blood cell counts, especially leucocyte counts, and their response to stimuli (lipopolysaccharide (LPS), endotoxins) can be modified, thereby compromising the animal\u2019s immune response (<a href=\"#ref\">Penner <em>et al.<\/em>, 2011<\/a>).<\/p>\n<div class=\"hr hr3\" style='margin:20px 0px 0px 0px !important;'><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"one_third last\"><span class=\"responsive\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4331\" style=\"width: 290px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Sheep-eating-concentrate-e1445868550320.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4331\" class=\"wp-image-4331\" src=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Sheep-eating-concentrate-e1445868550320-228x300.jpg\" alt=\"Sheep eating concentrate\" width=\"280\" height=\"368\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Sheep-eating-concentrate-e1445868550320-228x300.jpg 228w, https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Sheep-eating-concentrate-e1445868550320.jpg 425w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 280px) 100vw, 280px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-4331\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Concentrate-based diets, bad ration formulation and grazing sheep on grain crop residues, particularly maize and wheat, can cause ruminal acidosis.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"clear\"><\/div>\n<h4>Control and Prevention of Ruminal Acidosis<\/h4>\n<div class=\"two_third\">Fresh, clean water should be provided at all times and changes in feeding must be introduced gradually <strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to allow the rumen papillae to adapt<\/span><\/strong>. Home rations should be mixed thoroughly to prevent selection by the animals. Grains should be matured before inclusion and should preferably be fed in the whole grain form to sheep.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"treatment\"><\/a>Tannins may be effective for slowing ruminal disappearance of barley to improve starch utilization by ruminants (<a href=\"#ref\">Mart\u00ednez <em>et al.<\/em>, 2005, 2006<\/a>). The addition of live yeast may also be effective in reducing acidosis (<a href=\"#ref\">Brossard <em>et al<\/em>., 2006<\/a>). Sodium bicarbonate can also attenuate acidosis and lambs fed grain prefer foods and solutions containing sodium bicarbonate (<a href=\"#ref\">Phy and Provenza, 1998a, 1998b<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Lower stocking densities and sufficient trough space should help to prevent bullying and ensure all sheep get a fair share of concentrate.<\/p>\n<div class=\"hr hr3\" style='margin:20px 0px 0px 0px !important;'><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"one_third last\"><span class=\"responsive\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_7067\" style=\"width: 290px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/sheep-drinking.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7067\" class=\"wp-image-7067\" src=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/sheep-drinking-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"sheep drinking\" width=\"280\" height=\"187\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/sheep-drinking-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/sheep-drinking.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 280px) 100vw, 280px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7067\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Sheep with ruminal acidosis require plenty of water to correct dehydration<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"clear\"><\/div>\n<h4>Treating Ruminal Acidosis<\/h4>\n<p>The affected animals require careful nursing if they are to recover. They should be brought indoors and fed good quality, mature hay and plenty of fresh water. Prop animals up with bales to prevent bloat. <strong>No concentrate of any kind should be fed<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"good_practice\"><\/a>In all but mild cases, vet advice should be sought immediately. Dehydration must be corrected by the administration of fluids. Oral administration of magnesium hydroxide or sodium bicarbonate is useful (<a href=\"#ref\">Braun <em>et al<\/em>., 1992<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>If the case is severe, the farm vet may administer corticosteroids, antibacterials and nutritional supplements (vitamins) by injection may also help to save the animal (<a href=\"#ref\">Marchant, 1997<\/a>).<\/p>\n<div class=\"hr hr3\" style='margin:20px 0px 40px 0px !important;'><\/div>\n<h4>Good Practice Based on Current Knowledge<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Keep sheep well away from feed storage areas<\/li>\n<li>Feed at least 60% of the dry matter as either fresh green food or unmilled forage<\/li>\n<li>Provide fresh, clean water at all times<\/li>\n<li>Provide sufficient trough space\u00a0<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(&gt;45cm\/head in housed ewes being fed concentrate) (<a href=\"#ref\">Phillips <em>et al<\/em>, 2014<\/a>)<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Introduce changes in feeding gradually<\/li>\n<li>Mix home rations thoroughly<\/li>\n<li>Feed matured and whole grain<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>In a case of Ruminal Acidosis:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bring affected animals indoors and provide good quality, mature hay and fresh water<\/li>\n<li>Prop affected animals up with bales to prevent bloat<\/li>\n<li>Seek veterinary advice<\/li>\n<li>Correct dehydration<\/li>\n<li>Administer magnesium hydroxide or sodium bicarbonate orally (<a href=\"#ref\">Marchant, 1997<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a id=\"ref\"><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"toggle\">\n<div class=\"toggle-title active\">Ruminal Acidosis References<span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"toggle-inner\">\n<div id=\"zotpress-4c8b9d081a29dd779e272b69a91897af\" class=\"zp-Zotpress zp-Zotpress-Bib wp-block-group\">\n\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_API_USER_ID\" style=\"display: none;\">254757<\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_ITEM_KEY\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_COLLECTION_ID\" style=\"display: none;\">69MC8UB3<\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_TAG_ID\" style=\"display: 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