An evaluation of milk components for use as biochemical markers that will help detect rumen acidosis and indigestion in dairy cows

摘要

Rumen indigestion or subacute ruminai acidosis (SARA) is common even in well-managed dairy herds, and is difficult to diagnose as clinical signs vary by individual cow. A cow suffers from rumen indigestion when she experiences a prolonged period of low ruminai pH (pH<5.8) which may have returned to normal (pH 6.2-7.2) once clinical signs are evident. The purpose of this research was to find biological markers in milk that could be used to detect rumen indigestion prior to clinical signs, allowing for earlier treatment and prevention of prolonged reduced milk yield and therapy.