Acid-base-status in rumen fluid and urine in dairy cattle

Kricziokat, J., Wittek, T. and Furll, M. (2009) Acid-base-status in rumen fluid and urine in dairy cattle. Tieraerztliche Praxis Ausgabe Grosstiere Nutztiere, 37(4), pp. 229-235.

Abstract

Objective: Subclinical rumen acidosis is considered a frequent pathologic condition of acid base status in dairy cows. The objectives of the study were to measure parameters of acid base status in simultaneously obtained rumen fluid and urine samples and to evaluate the diagnostic value of urine parameters to predict subclinical rumen acidosis. Material and methods: Rumen fluid samples were obtained using the Geishauser stomach tube from 348 dairy heifers and dairy cows in 10 dairy farms. Simultaneously urine samples were taken by bladder catheterization. The parameters rumen pH, urine pH, and net-acid-base-excretion (NABE) were measured; base/acid-ratio (B/A-ratio) was calculated. Results: The associations between rumen pH and urine pH (r = 0.19, p < 0.001), rumen pH and NABE (r = 0.13, p = 0.018) as well as rumen pH und B/A-ratio (r = 0.13, p = 0.017) were characterized by low correlation coefficients. Values for sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of all parameters of urine acid base status predicting rumen acidosis were also low. Conclusion and clinical relevance: The results of the study indicate that the parameters of urine acid base status are not suitable to estimate the rumen acid base status under field conditions. The diagnosis of rumen acidosis requires the measurement of pH in rumen fluid

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Wittek, Dr Thomas
• Authors: Kricziokat, J., Wittek, T., and Furll, M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Tieraerztliche Praxis Ausgabe Grosstiere Nutztiere
• ISSN: 1434-1220