Prevention and Treatment Methods and Technical Key Points for Rumen Atony in Cattle

Rumen atony is a disease in which the excitability of the rumen nerves is reduced and contractility is weakened, so feed cannot be normally digested and moved backward in the forestomach, resulting in fermentation and putrefaction that produce toxic substances, causing digestive disorders and systemic functional disturbances.

1. Etiology.

It is mainly caused by excessive concentrate and insufficient roughage; a single feed type or excessive feeding of roughage rich in crude fiber and difficult to digest, such as straw, old dried hay, and bran; long-term excessive feeding of grass meal, boiled mushy root tubers, and dregs feed, which weakens rumination function; and feeding rotten, moldy, and frozen feed. In addition, long-distance transport, overwork, sudden changes in the feeding system and feed, deficiency of minerals and trace elements, uneven tooth wear, and weak constitution can all promote the occurrence of this disease.

2. Clinical symptoms.

Body temperature, pulse, and respiration generally show no obvious changes. Initially, there is reduced appetite, refusal to eat concentrate, or pica; later, complete refusal to eat, reduced or stopped rumination, belching with a sour odor, salivation, bad breath, and a coated tongue. Unclean grass foam and secretions often adhere around the nostrils and on the muzzle. On palpation, the rumen is soft, sometimes with a small amount of retained feed and mild bloat; on auscultation, the number of rumen and omasum contractions is reduced and the sounds are weak; in severe cases, the contraction sounds disappear and intestinal sounds are weakened. The feces are dry, small, and dark, with mucus on the surface. After 2 to 3 days, because the gastrointestinal contents ferment and putrefy and irritate the intestinal mucosa, diarrhea with a sour and putrid odor occurs. Examination of rumen fluid shows a marked decrease in the number of ciliates and a tendency toward acidity. If a large amount of protein feed is ingested, it tends toward alkalinity. If toxins produced by decomposition of stomach contents are absorbed, systemic symptoms appear, milk production drops sharply, and gastroenteritis occurs secondarily. The symptomatic characteristics of chronic rumen atony: frequent recurrent attacks, appetite sometimes good and sometimes poor; feed intake gradually decreases, the sick cattle progressively lose weight, and the coat is rough and standing on end; finally, the eyeballs sink, the gait is lax and weak, and anemia and other exhaustion symptoms appear. Primary rumen atony generally recovers in 2 to 4 days with timely treatment; if not treated promptly and delayed too long, it may become chronic. The prognosis of secondary rumen atony depends on the primary disease.

3. Prevention and treatment.

The treatment principles for this disease are to excite gastric peristalsis, stop putrefactive fermentation, accelerate the elimination of contents, and promote the recovery of appetite and rumination.

At the beginning of the disease, fast the animal for 1 to 2 days, then give easily digestible and nutritious feed, such as green grass, high-quality hay, and chopped root tuber feed.

To increase forestomach motility, forestomach stimulants may be used, such as nux vomica tincture 15 to 30 mL, tartar emetic 4 to 8 g, ipecac tincture 20 to 30 mL, etc., and added with rhubarb tincture, gentian tincture, dilute hydrochloric acid, etc. for oral administration. Carbamylcholine 0.1% 3 to 5 mL may also be injected subcutaneously.

For those with a long course and more severe condition, in addition to the above drugs, to restore normal central nervous system function, 10% ambromide injection 100 to 150 mL may be injected intravenously once daily for 4 to 5 consecutive days.

To stop excessive fermentation of stomach contents and remove stomach contents, magnesium sulfate 300 to 500 mL may be mixed with ichthammol 25 g, alcohol 100 mL, and warm water 500 mL for a single oral administration.

For chronic rumen atony, in addition to the above therapies, gastric lavage therapy may be used.

Traditional Chinese medicine treatment. Codonopsis pilosula, Atractylodes macrocephala, tangerine peel, and Aucklandia lappa 30 g each, malt, medicated leaven, and ginger 60 to 90 g each, ground into powder for oral administration. According to whether there is deficiency-cold of the spleen and stomach or damp-heat, appropriately add cardamom, amomum, gentian, Artemisia capillaris, etc.

For prevention, the main measures are to improve feeding management, use the animals reasonably for work, and provide sufficient vitamins, mineral feed, and appropriate exercise.