Acidosis

Acidosis is a disease which is true to its name, a cows rumen becomes an acidic environment. This can occur when cows ingest feed that is rich in rapidly fermentable carbohydrates they are not yet accustomed to, due to the sugars in the feed being converted into lactic acid by bacteria in the rumen.

Symptoms of acidosis:

•  Cows with mild clinical acidosis will exhibit scouring, will be off their feed and hanging back from the rest of the herd.

•  In more severe cases the disease may progress to include metabolic acidosis, depression, dehydration, bloating and milk fever like symptoms, e.g. wobbly/drunk cows.

•  Severe acidosis may result in cows going down, coma and death within 8-10 hours.

Here are some recommendations to follow to minimize the risk of acidosis:

•  It is important to know paddock area and feeding face length.

•  Accurately measure the yield and determine square meters required.

•  Carry out crop analysis to determine dry matter, crops can vary hugely from one paddock to the next.

•  Offer supplement at least three hours before fodder beet is offered – do not put hungry cows onto crop.

•  Transition onto crop over a minimum of 14 days – increase allowance by no more than 1kg every second day for cows (0.5kg for R1’s).

•  Remember to adjust breaks if cows are removed from the group.