Systemic effects of ruminal acidosis following ruminal drinking in young calves. A retrospective analysis of 293 cases

In a retrospective study the data of 293 young calves (age upon admission less than four weeks) with evidence of ruminal drinking (rumen pH <6.0) were analyzed for possible associations between ruminal acidosis and various parameters of systemic acid-base metabolism (blood pH, blood levels of HCO3- and L-lactate, as well as anion gap). On the basis of the degree of ruminal acidosis (pH <5.0/greater than or equal to 5.0) and evidence of diarrhea, the animals were assigned to one of four groups. The results indicate that severe ruminal acidosis leads to disturbances of systemic acid-base metabolism in young calves, too. With additional diarrhea, those disturbances can be complex.