Voulgarakis Nikolaos, Gougoulis Dimitrios A, Psalla Dimitra, Papakonstantinou Georgios I, Katsoulis Konstantinos, Angelidou-Tsifida Mariana, Athanasiou Labrini V, Papatsiros Vasileios G, Christodoulopoulos Georgios
Clinical Veterinary Medicine Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, 431 00 Karditsa, Greece.
Laboratory of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece.
Animals (Basel). 2024 Jul 14;14(14):2061. doi: 10.3390/ani14142061.
Subacute rumen acidosis (SARA) is a current issue in intensive livestock farming, and it is particularly associated with feeding high-concentrate diets. This study investigated the prevalence and impact of SARA in forty-two Greek dairy sheep flocks by recording rumen pH, milk composition, and milk yield over a period of nine months. Moreover, it explored the use of computerized rumen colorimetry as a management and diagnostic tool for SARA in dairy sheep. In culled ewes, computerized rumen mucosal colorimetry was applied, and rumen wall samples taken for histological examination. SARA cases were identified in 19 farms (45%, = 42). Farms with SARA cases had lower milk fat levels, while milk yield and milk protein levels did not differ based on the SARA status of the farms. In culled ewes, rumen color was significantly associated with the flock's SARA status, and affected ewes showed increased thickness in non-keratinized and total epithelial layers. It was concluded that computerized rumen mucosal colorimetry in aged, culled ewes shows promise as an indicator, , of SARA present in dairy sheep flocks whose impact can be minimized by making significant changes in dietary management.
亚急性瘤胃酸中毒（SARA）是集约化畜牧业当前面临的一个问题，尤其与高浓度日粮喂养有关。本研究通过记录九个月期间的瘤胃pH值、牛奶成分和产奶量，调查了希腊42个奶羊群体中SARA的流行情况及其影响。此外，还探讨了将计算机化瘤胃比色法作为奶羊SARA的管理和诊断工具的应用。对淘汰母羊应用计算机化瘤胃黏膜比色法，并采集瘤胃壁样本进行组织学检查。在19个农场（45%，n = 42）中发现了SARA病例。发生SARA病例的农场牛奶脂肪水平较低，而产奶量和牛奶蛋白质水平在不同SARA状态的农场之间没有差异。在淘汰母羊中，瘤胃颜色与群体的SARA状态显著相关，受影响的母羊非角质化上皮层和总上皮层厚度增加。研究得出结论，对老龄淘汰母羊进行计算机化瘤胃黏膜比色法显示出有望作为奶羊群体中SARA的一个指标，通过对日粮管理进行重大改变，可以将其影响降至最低。
