It usually occurs when cows are not properly transitioned onto high sugar/starch feeds (commonly brassicas or fodder beet) or when large quantities of high sugar/starch feeds are included in the diet.
Acidosis is most common between day 7 and 14 of fodder beet transition.
Symptoms of acidosis
Cows with mild clinical acidosis will exhibit scouring, will be off their feed and hanging back from the rest of the herd.
In more severe cases the disease may progress to include metabolic acidosis, depression, dehydration, bloating and milk fever like symptoms. Severe acidosis may result in cows going down, coma and death within 8-10 hours.
How to treat acidosis
Treatment of acidosis depends on the severity of the case.
- Seek veterinary attention if cows are down.
- If a few cows get mild acidosis, ensure the time and space allocations are being achieved and reduce the allocation back to 2-3 kg DM until all cows are eating it. Cows with mild acidosis will be slower to walk to a new break but still act normal.
- Any cows with clinical acidosis (walking but wobbly or looking drunk) should be removed from the crop, orally dosed with magnesium oxide as below and alternative feed provided.
- Oral drench affected cows with a slurry of magnesium oxide (2 handfuls; approx. 500 g mixed with water), 1-3 times per day until they improve and make sure they have alternative feed available.