Ruminal metabolic acidosis

Abstract

Ruminal acidosis is a metabolic disease of cattle, sheep and possibly other ruminants which is characterized by ruminal and generalized systemic acidosis resulting in anorixia, weakness, prostration, coma and frequently death. The condition has been called engorgement toxemia, rumenitis, toxic indigestion, rumen overload, grain overload, rumen acidosis or lactic acidosis. In the biochemistry of acid-base physiology, there are two broad classifications of acidosis. The first is respiratory acidosis which is usually a compensatory hypoventilation which increases the Pco₂, resulting in acidosis of respiratory origin. The second classification is referred to as metabolic acidosis. This is the type of acidosis we will be concerned with in this article.