Main Article Content

Abstract

Post-mortem examination was carried out on a 2-week old male Friesian crossbred calf to determine the cause of death. The body condition of the calf was fair with pale mucous membranes. There was petechial to ecchymotic epicardial haemorrhages with mild hydroperitoneum and hepatomegaly. The enlarged rumen contained a large amount of white offensive rancid-smelling curdled milk mixed with watery content while the abomasum contained some sand sediment. A diagnosis of acute ruminal drinking was made based on the calf's age, reportedly feeding entirely on milk ration, and the presence of a large amount of curdled milk in the rumen. Early diagnosis and the treatment of underlying pathological conditions, correction of predisposing management practices, and rumenostomy are some of the ante-mortem ways to combat and improve the prognosis of the condition in affected calves.   

Keywords

Ruminal drinking; Friesian calf; Post mortem; Diagnosis

Article Details

Author Biographies

S. E. Abalaka, University of Abuja

Department of Veterinary Pathology (Senior Lecturer)

N. A. Sani, University of Abuja

Department of Veteerinary Pathology (Lecturer I)

I. S. Idoko, University of Abuja

Department of Veterinary Pathology (Lecturer I)

O. Z. Tenuche, University of Abuja

DEpartment of Veterinary Pathology (Lecturer I)

S. A. Ejeh, University of Abuja

Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry (Lecturer I)

How to Cite
Abalaka, S. E., Sani, N. A., Idoko, I. S., Tenuche, O. Z., & Ejeh, S. A. (2020). Acute Ruminal Drinking in a 2-week old Male Friesian Crossbred Calf. Sahel Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 17(3), 37-40. https://doi.org/10.54058/saheljvs.v17i3.108

References

  1. Adetunji, S.A., Gomez, G., De la Concha-Bermejillo, A., ‎Oliveira, F. and Arenas-Gamboa, A.M. (2016). ‎Reticulo-ruminal milk accumulation (Ruminal ‎drinking) in five pre-ruminant White-tailed deer ‎‎(WTD; Odocoileus virginianus) in Texas. Braz. J. ‎Vet. Pathol., 9(2):47-54.‎
  2. Bhardwaj, R.K., Randhawa, C.S. and Randhawa, S.S. ‎‎(2010). Incidence of iron deficiency in crossbreed ‎cow calves reared on pucca floor. Indian J. Anim. ‎Sci., 80(10):1037-1040.‎
  3. Breukink, H.J., Wensing, T., Buisman, A.V., van Bruinessen-‎Kapsenberg, E.G. and de Visser, N.A.P.C. (1988). ‎Consequences of failure of the reticular groove ‎reflex in veal calves fed milk replacer. Vet Q., ‎‎10(2):126-135.‎
  4. Constable, P.D. (2015). Bloat in ruminants (Ruminal ‎tympany). MSD Manual/Veterinary Manual. ‎Available from: https://www.msdvetmanua.com/dogestive-system/diseases-of-the-ruminants-‎forestomach/bloat-in-ruminants. Accessed 26 June ‎‎2020.‎
  5. Dirr, L., and Dirksen, G. (1989). Dysfunction of the ‎esophageal groove (“ruminal drinking”) as a ‎complication of neonatal diarrhea in the calf. ‎Tierarztl. Prax., 17:353-358.‎
  6. Edston, E. (1997). Evaluation of agonal artifacts in the ‎myocardium using a combination of histological ‎stains and immunohistochemistry. Am. J. Forensic ‎Med. Pathol., 18(2):163-167.‎
  7. El-Ashker, M., El-Sebaei, M., and Salama, M. (2012) ‎Evaluation of the inflammatory reaction in calves ‎with acute ruminal drinking. J. Vet. Sci. Technol., ‎‎3:116.‎
  8. Garry, F.B. (2009). Rumen indigestion and putrefaction. In: ‎Anderson DE, Rings DM. (Eds.). Current Veterinary ‎Therapy: Food Animal Practice. 5th edn. Elsevier, ‎Missouri, Pp. 20-23.‎
  9. Garry, F., and McConnel, C. (2020). Indigestion in ‎ruminants. In: Smith, B.P., van Metre, D.C. and ‎Pusterla, N. (Eds.). Large Animal Internal Medicine. ‎Elsevier, Missouri, Pp. 854-879.‎
  10. Gentile, A. (2004). Ruminal acidosis in milk-fed calves. ‎Large Animal Veterinary Rounds, 4 (9). Available from: https://semanticscholar.org/4da3/06b42e4ca2b‎301e96e1a402f99232c0395baf.pdf. Accessed 27 February 2020.‎
  11. Gentile, A., Sconza, S., Lorenz, I., Otranto, G., Rademacher, ‎G., Famigli-Bergamini, P., and Klee, W. (2004). ‎d‐Lactic acidosis in calves as a consequence of ‎experimentally induced ruminal acidosis. J. Vet. ‎Med., A51:64-70. ‎
  12. Ghanem, M. (2016). Ruminal drinkers. Available from: https://slideshare.net/drmohammedghaem1/ruminal-‎drinkers. Accessed 6 March 2020.‎
  13. Kaba, T., Abera, B. and Kassa, T. (2018). Esophageal ‎groove ‎dysfunction: A cause of ruminal bloat in newborn calves. BMC Vet. Res.,14:276.‎
  14. King, J.M., Roth-Johnson, L., Dodd, D.C. and Newsom, ‎M.E. (2013). The Necropsy Book: A Guide for ‎Veterinary Students, Residents, Clinicians, ‎Pathologists, and Biological Researchers. 7th edn. ‎Charles Louis Davis DVM Foundation Publisher, ‎Ithaca, Pp. 1 – 259. ‎
  15. Lateur-Rowet, H.J.M.and Breukink, H.J. (1983). The failure ‎of the oesophageal groove reflex, when fluids are ‎given with an oesophageal feeder to newborn and ‎young calves. Vet. Q., 5:68–74.‎
  16. Lewis, R. (2020). Bison milk and the orphan calf. All About ‎Bison: All About Bison, All The Time. Available from: https://allaboutbison.com/bison-milk-and-the-‎orphan-calf/. Accessed 27 June 2020.‎
  17. Lorenz, I. (2004). Influence of d‐lactate on metabolic ‎acidosis and on prognosis in neonatal calves with ‎diarrhoea. J. Vet. Med. A Physiol. Pathol. Clin. Med., ‎‎51:425-428.‎
  18. Longenbach, J. and Heinrichs, A. (1998). A review of the ‎importance and physiological role of curd formation ‎in the abomasum of young calves. Anim. Feed. Sci. ‎Technol., 73:85-97.‎
  19. Lorenz, I. (2015). Runimal drinking. MSD Manual/Veterinary Manual. Available from:https://www.msdvetmanual.com/digestive-system-diseases-of-the-ruminants-‎forestomach/ruminal-drinking. Accessed 24 June ‎‎2020.‎
  20. Ruckeusch, V.and Kay, R.N.B. (1971). Sur le réflexe de ‎fermetre de la gouttière oesophagienne. Ann. Biol. ‎Anim. iochim. Biophys., 11:281–281.‎
  21. Stocke, H., Lutz, H. and Rüsch, P. (1999). Clinical, ‎haemaological and biochemical findings in milk-fed ‎calves with chronic indigestion. Vet. Rec., 145:307-‎‎311.‎
  22. Thoms, H.S. (2019). Dealing with dirt-eating calves: ‎Normal, but can cause problems. Dealing with Dirt ‎Eaters. Western Livestock Journal. Available from: ‎https://www.wlj.net/top headlines/dealing-with-‎eating-calves/article 4b08beee-56ef-11e9-b4d1-‎e7447263665d.html. Accessed 27 June 2020.‎
  23. Whitenack, D.L.and Johnson, B. (1986). Necropsy of the ‎feeder stocker calf. Vet. Clin.North Am. Food Anim. ‎Pract., 2:97-118.‎