Acidosis And Dairy Cows

Symptoms of acidosis:
1) Reduced DMI
2) Reduced Saliva
3) Panting of animals
4) Decreased fat and gravity
5) Poor fiber digestion and un-digestible
materials excreted in dung.
 Acidosis-Lactic Acid

• VFA and Lactic Acid are produced by breaking

down of Starch from Cereal Grains
• Lactic Acid is 10 times stronger than any other
Rumen Acid and cause severe erosion to the walls
of Rumen.
• Some of the Ruminal Bacteria (e.g. M. elsdenii)
utilize Lactic Acid. However when rate of
production of Lactic Acid exceeds the utilization
the Ruminal pH falls to 5.5 –5.6 giving rise to
SARA.
Acidosis-Lactic Acid
 Acidosis- Saliva
• Cows produce 160-180 liters of Saliva during
chewing activity in response to the amount of
physical fiber present in the diet.
• Saliva acts as a natural buffering agent by
neutralizing the impact of excessive acid and
maintains Ruminal pH at 6.6 to 6.7.
• Concentrate feeding reduces the production of Saliva
to 50-100 liters per day
 Acidosis & Heat
• Hot and Humid
climates results in
excessive panting
of cows in order to
dissipate body heat

• High Saliva loss

due to panting also
aggravates the
SARA.
 Harmful Effects of Acidosis
• Low Milk Fat
• Depressed Milk Yield
• Erratic feed intake
• Loose Dung with undigested particles
• Diarrhoea
• Liver Abscesses
 Acidosis Management
• High lactating cows cannot be deprived of
excessive grain feeding because grain feeding
is very important.
• Fiber content should be increased resulting in
high production of Saliva
• Buffering agents should be used to
compensate for inadequate saliva production
and loss due to panting.
 Acidosis Laminitis
Endotoxins produced in acidic rumen conditions constricts
capillaries supplying blood to the hoof resulting in laminitis
 Avilact v/s Na(HCO)3
• Traditional method of feeding adding sodium
bicarbonate is not enough to serve as buffering
agent
• Sodium bicarbonate improves the Ruminal pH
only for short span of time
 Avilact
• Scientifically formulated combination of Sodium
salt of Carbonic Acid, Magnesium Oxide and
HSCAS (Hydrated Sodium Calcium Alumino
Silicates)
• Brings the Ruminal pH to Normal
• Maintains Ruminal pH for longer periods
• Binds the Endotoxins produced in the Rumen due
to acidic environment and prevents lameness.
 Avilact

Administration
Add @ of 500gms to 1 kg per 100 kg of
cattle feed depending on the % of the grains
in ration and total concentrate fed per
animal.
Alternately administer 50-100 gms per
animal per day depending on the amount of
concentrate fed.