REVIEW ARTICLE OORSIGARTIKEL

Rumen management during aphagia

A S Shakespeare

Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110 South Africa. E-mail: tony.shakespeare@up.ac.za

ABSTRACT

Ruminants that for any reason are unable to eat enough to survive can be supported via rumen fistulation. To successfully accomplish this task, an understanding of rumen physiology is necessary. Some adaptation and modification of the normal physiological processes will be necessary because the extended time normally required to ingest food will, for obvious practical reasons, be reduced to a few minutes repeated once to three times a day. The physiology of significance to aphagic or dysphagic animals is discussed and relevant examples of clinical cases are used to illustrate practical applications.

Key words: aphagia, fistulation, maintenance requirements, rumen temperature, rumen volume, saliva

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Received: November 2007
Accepted: June 2008