THE OCCURRENCE OF BLOAT AND ACIDOSIS METABOLIC DISORDERS AND MORTALITY RATES IN GRAZING SHEEP
MEHDI MOGHADDAM *
Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
AHMAD AHMADI
Department of Animal Science, Rural Cooperatives of East Azarbayjan, Tabriz, Iran.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Since mid-March to late October, 2000 Gizel sheep in 6 flocks were examined for the occurrence of bloat and acute acidosis. First, the sheep were fed with alfalfa and in the residue of grain fields in the morning and afternoon. In this study, the grazing time in alfalfa field was considered as an effective factor in the occurrence of bloat and the residue of grain fields was regarded as an effective factor in the occurrence of acidosis. The results showed the index number of the observed bloat and acidosis compared to the whole herd was affected by grazing time of alfalfa and residue of the grains. Also, the number observed bloats in the afternoon was significantly higher than the morning. Besides, the index number of mortality due to bloat was affected by grazing time compared to the whole herd and the mortality rate was meaningful. The number of mortality caused by acute acidosis compared to the whole amount of observed acute acidosis was influenced by the treatment time and type. The sheep which were treated faster and by experts had lower mortality rate.
Keywords: Acidosis, bloat, cereal residue fields, legume