Clinical, haematobiochemical and ruminal changes during the onset and recovery of induced lactic acidosis in sheep

Abstract

A total number of five sheep were used in cross over design with an interval of three weeks for induction of lactic acidosis with sucrose, and treated with sodium bicarbonate as antacid, yeast as probiotics and gentian root powder as medicinal herbs. The acidoteic sheep showed significant (P<0.05) decrease in body temp, significant increase in respiratory rate, pulse rate and reduction of ruminal movement with depression, weakness, semisolid feces and stand with their head held lowered. There were significant changes in heamatobiochemical, ruminal parameters, these changes were more obvious at 24 hours after induction of acidosis. The clinical, heamatobiochemical, ruminal parameters of induced lactic acidosis were improved rapidly post-treatment with sodium bicarbonate and yeast, whereas these parameters showed slow improvement post treatment by gentian root powder. It was concluded that treatment of induced lactic acidosis in sheep by sodium bicarbonate and yeast give a good result and improve general health condition of the animal but it's preferable for treatment of lactic acidosis using a combination of both sodium bicarbonate and live yeast as sodium bicarbonate raise the ruminal pH rapidly and yeast stabilizes it. Treatment of lactic acidosis by oral administration of freshly grated gentian root showed slow improvement, so further investigation must be done before using gentian root alone in treating lactic acidosis.

Keywords

• gentian root
• haemato-biochemical
• lactic acidosis
• sheep
• sodium bicarbonate
• yeast