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Metabolic Diseases

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Urinary Calculi

 

Urinary calculi is a metabolic problem associated with male beef animals. The disease occurs when calculi (stones) become lodged in the urinary tract and prevent urination causing abdominal pain, distension and rupture of the uretha or bladder. The most common causes are a lack of water combined with feeding diets that have excessive amounts of magnesium and/or have an imbalance of calcium and phosphorous.

 

NWF’s solution: It is vital that animals have an ample supply of clean, fresh water; this is of the highest importance. The ratio of calcium to phosphorous in the ration should be at least 2:1. NWF beef rations include a specially formulated beef mineral containing the correct balance of minerals for growth, development and health.

 

Acidosis

 

Beef cows in intensive systems are often fed rations high in starch and rapidly fermentable carbohydrates and low in fibre. This can lead to a decrease in rumen pH due to the accumulation of lactic acid in the rumen. The same effect can be seen in situations where animals are out on lush spring grass as this is also low in fibre and high in rapidly fermentable carbohydrates. This problem is made worse as saliva production is considerably reduced in diets low in physical fibre, causing a reduction in the buffering capacity, a fall in rumen pH and the development of sub-acute rumen acidosis (SARA).

 

SARA is defined as a disorder of rumen fermentation where rumen pH drops below 5.5 for extended periods of time. A low rumen pH has a negative effect on the population of fibre digesting bacteria which leads to reduced feed intake. The signs of SARA can be difficult to spot in the field as they are subtle and often masked by other common problems such as lameness. However, cows suffering from SARA tend to have mild diarrhoea, reduced intakes and haemorrhages in the hoof.

 

NWF’s solution: NWF’s rationing program takes into account the acid load and fibre index of the overall diet enabling you to feed for performance without compromising on rumen health. We also have a range of products designed to tackle acidosis and improve rumen health and function.

 

Stable Rumen Pak Beef: A unique NWF product that combines yea-sacc with a specially formulated range of buffering salts. It provides a unique and cost effective way of optimising rumen pH and improving performance.

 

Yea-sacc: a live yeast that helps increase the number of fibre digesting bacteria in the rumen improving fibre digestion and food conversion efficiency. Lactic acid is utilised more efficiently creating a higher rumen pH and a more stable rumen environment. Yea-sacc also helps to increase the amount of Volatile Fatty Acids (VFA), increasing the amount of available energy.

 

Your local NWF Sale Specialist will help you decide which is the ideal product to suit your individual situation.