Effect of Prebiotic and Spirulina on Blood Gas Parameters and Acute Phase Proteins in Dairy Cattle with Sub-Acute Ruminal Acidosis

Abstract

Feeding on a diet that supports high calories maximized milk production in the dairy cattle industry. However, it also decreases rumen pH, leading to widespread sub-acute rumen acidosis (SARA). In the present study, we investigated a novel treatment approach based on safe, non-chemical components and evaluated the anti-SARA efficacy of "2" novel candidates, prebiotics, and spirulina, to prevent unfavorable pH decline in the rumen and hence treatment of SARA. Detailed field diagnosis and rumenocentesis were applied to 210 dairy cows. Suspected cases of SARA were further subjected to biochemical analysis. Only 73 cows were regarded as SARA positive. Thirty days treatment protocol was followed using the addition of prebiotics either alone or in combination with spirulina to diets of SARA-affected cows. The results indicated that the rumen pH, the estimated blood gas parameters (PO2, PCO2, and HCO3-), the glucose level, hepatic enzymes (ALT and AST), lipid profile, and the acute phase reactants (SAA and CRP), were significantly improved in the treated cases, when compared with the non-treated ones (P≤0.05). Data of the present study have pointed to the beneficial use of prebiotics in combination with spirulina in SARA handling in the dairy cattle industry.