Clinico-haematological studies in experimentally induced alkaline indigestion in goats

摘要

Alkaline indigestion occurs in ruminants from accidental ingestion of excess quantity of protein rich concentrate or nitrogen substances, urea treated paddy straw, drinking of sewage water (Chakravarty, 1988). The incidence of alkaline indigestion is in rise due to common use of urea as fertilizer or feed additive. Toxic effects are due to sudden production of excessive ammonia and its absorption in rumen and subsequently in blood (Lewis, 1960). Reports are available on alkaline indigestion in cattle, buffaloes and sheep but information on alkaline indigestion in goats is limited in our country, hence this study was undertaken. Apparently healthy indigenous goats (18) weighing 9.5 - 14kg and aged 1-2 years were taken for the study. The animals were examined clinically and their blood, faeces and urine samples were analysed routinely to ruleout the possibility of concurrent infections. All the animals were kept under uniform feeding and managemental practices. When all the goats were found clinically healthy, they were randomly divided into 2 groups (gr. A and gr. B) with 9 animals in each. Alkaline indigestion was induced in animals of gr. B by drenching fertilizer grade of urea (20 percent W/V) @0.1g/kg body weight for 6 consecutive days, followed by @ 0.2g/kg body weight for 4 days and @ 0.3g/kg body weight for another 2 days for development of clinical signs. The animals of gr. A were kept as healthy control. During the period of experiment, the animals were allowed to graze in open area where fodders were available. The routine clinical examination viz. body temperature, respiration rate, heart rate and ruminal movement were carriedout before induction of indigestion (0 day) and thereafter at every alternate day upto 12th day of the experiment by standard methods (Kelly, 1979). The haematological examination was also done at these intervals as per the methods of Jain (1986). Data were tested statistically by student 't' test (Snedecor and Cochran, 1994).