Ruminal drinkers

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Prof. Mohamed Ghanem

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Clinical CaseClinical Case A veal calf admitted to your clinic A veal calf admitted to your clinic

with 8 week-old. Clinical signs with 8 week-old. Clinical signs included inappetance, loss of body included inappetance, loss of body weight and ruminal stasis with some weight and ruminal stasis with some tympany. Plan your diagnosis, tympany. Plan your diagnosis, differential diagnosis and treatment.differential diagnosis and treatment.

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Ruminal DrinkersRuminal Drinkers(Ruminal drinking)(Ruminal drinking)

IndigestionIndigestion in calves fed milk in calves fed milk replacersreplacers

Ruminal drinkers refers to calves that Ruminal drinkers refers to calves that develop chronic indigestion because develop chronic indigestion because milk is deposited into the rumen as a milk is deposited into the rumen as a result of failure of the reticular result of failure of the reticular groove reflex during drinking. groove reflex during drinking.

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EsophagealEsophageal GrooveGroove (reticular (reticular groovegroove).).    

After feed is swallowed, it moves down the After feed is swallowed, it moves down the esophagus toward the stomach. Since the esophagus toward the stomach. Since the esophagus joins the stomach in the area of the esophagus joins the stomach in the area of the rumen and reticulum, ingested feed first enters rumen and reticulum, ingested feed first enters this section of the stomach.this section of the stomach.

However, prior to weaning, milk and milk However, prior to weaning, milk and milk replacer take a different route. A combination replacer take a different route. A combination of factors such as of factors such as sucklingsuckling, the presence of , the presence of milk proteinsmilk proteins and and anticipation result in anticipation result in neural responsesneural responses that cause muscular folds that cause muscular folds in the reticulorumen to form a in the reticulorumen to form a groovegroove that that extends from the esophagus to the abomasum. extends from the esophagus to the abomasum.

The The esophagealesophageal groovegroove allows milk and milk allows milk and milk replacer to bypass the rumen, reticulum and replacer to bypass the rumen, reticulum and omasum and to flow directly into the omasum and to flow directly into the abomasum abomasum

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Etiology and pathogenesisEtiology and pathogenesis The disease is most common in bucket-The disease is most common in bucket-

fed calves, especially veal calves 2-8 fed calves, especially veal calves 2-8 wk old.wk old.

Calves that “gulp” rather than sip milk Calves that “gulp” rather than sip milk are at greatest risk. are at greatest risk.

The milk retained in the rumen The milk retained in the rumen fermentsferments and produces acetic acid, and produces acetic acid, butyric acid, and lactate; the pH in the butyric acid, and lactate; the pH in the rumen falls; and parakeratosis of the rumen falls; and parakeratosis of the ruminal mucosa develops. ruminal mucosa develops.

Secondary changes include villous Secondary changes include villous atrophy in the small intestine atrophy in the small intestine

bucket-fed calf bucket-fed calf

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Clinical signsClinical signs1.1. Affected calves show inappetence, ventral Affected calves show inappetence, ventral

abdominal distention, and poor growth. abdominal distention, and poor growth. 2.2. sticky, sticky, clay-like fecesclay-like feces that may adhere that may adhere

to the tail, perineum, and hindlegs.to the tail, perineum, and hindlegs.3.3. Chronically affected calves are small for Chronically affected calves are small for

their age and have a poor prognosis. their age and have a poor prognosis. 4.4. Fluid-splashing sounds, audible on Fluid-splashing sounds, audible on

auscultation over the left flank while the auscultation over the left flank while the calf is drinking, are diagnostic. calf is drinking, are diagnostic.

5.5. Rancid-smelling grayish whiteRancid-smelling grayish white fermented fermented material can be obtained by stomach tube material can be obtained by stomach tube from the rumen. from the rumen.

6.6. A ruminal pH of <6 leads to systemic A ruminal pH of <6 leads to systemic acid-base disturbance. acid-base disturbance.

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TreatmentTreatment induce reticular groove closure by induce reticular groove closure by

inducing vigorous sucking activity with inducing vigorous sucking activity with the fingers before feeding milk.the fingers before feeding milk.

A rubber nipple floating on the surface A rubber nipple floating on the surface of bucket-fed milk may prevent the of bucket-fed milk may prevent the syndrome. syndrome.

Weaning into hay and concentrate Weaning into hay and concentrate produce rapid recovery in affected produce rapid recovery in affected calves calves

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A rubber nipple feedingA rubber nipple feeding

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Different diseases of abdomenDifferent diseases of abdomensilhouette of abdominal contour viewed from silhouette of abdominal contour viewed from

rearrear

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Any Any QuestionsQuestions