Abstract:

In the present study the aim was to determine the incidence of subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) in some dairy cattle enterpreneur in Aydın by means of different biomarkers. Eight different dairy cattle farms operated by total mixture ration (TMR) and located in Aydın province were enrolled in the study. In each enterpreneur group 2 subgroups (n=12 at least in each) as I early lactation (0-70 days) and group IImid lactation (70-140 days) were composed. Regarding thesis, rumen pH (digital pH meter), number of rumen contractions (phonendescope), fecal scoring (inspection), body condition score (Edmonson method) were used as descriptive biomarkers. In context of the study, 15/184 (8.15%) animals were SARA positive (pH ˂ 5.5) (12 in early lactation, 3 in middle lactation) as well as two different farms (D and F farms with 25%) 1 each case with SARA risk, 167 cases were negative for SARA. Rumen pH values when evaluated in terms of body condition scoring, cows presenting 3˂BCS˂4 showed higher mean values in contrast to other groups. In healthy animals and other diagnosed with SARA, pH values of rumen fluid (p ˂0.01), ruminal contractions (p ˂0.01), median fecal scoring (p ˂0.01) were presenting statistical significanceto those of healthy ones. In healthy and SARA diagnosed animals there were significant and positive correlations among rumen pH and rumen contractions (0.246 and 0.647, respectively) (P˂ 0.01), rumen pH and BCS (0.414 and 0.781) (P˂ 0.01). As a result, the existence of SARA has been revealed for the first time in the enterprises located in Aydın province borders. In our study, the correlations between biomarkers related to SARA (rumen pH, rumen contractions, fecal score, BCS) were examined which could be used for diagnosis, and given early preventive measures might have helped disease prevention.

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