Abstract
BACKGROUND: Acidosis is one of the most common rumen diseases characterized by changes in the rumen environment and the circulatory system. Recent alternative trends in rearing small ruminants have led to the use of probiotics, rumenotorics and prebiotics to treat acidosis in animals. PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of probiotics and the combination of probiotics with prebiotics and probiotics with rumenotorics for the treatment of acidosis in sheep. METHODS: This experimental study was conducted from September 2018 to May 2019. For the therapeutic study, 25 sheep were randomly divided into 5 equal groups. Acidosis was induced by an oral dose of 50 g/kg with wheat flour after a 24 hour fast. Four regimens of therapy were employed: PT probiotics, PPT probiotics with prebiotics; PRT probiotics with rumenotorics and standard ST treatment were adopted. Before and after therapy, laboratory analyses on rumen fluid, serum analysis, physical signs, and hematological changes were conducted. RESULTS: When probiotics were combined with rumenotorics (PRT), the mean standard deviation of rumen pH at day zero was 4.96±0.837 (PRT). Rumen pH improved from day one today three to 5.92±0.54, 6.30±041 and 6.75±0.34, respectively. The change in rumen pH was statistically significant after treatment on day 3 (p=0.002). The therapeutic regimens of PRT had improved heart rate and respiratory rate after treatment and the change was statistically significant (p=0.006 and p=0.000) compared to the control group. The PCV of the PRT treated sheep was also improved. CONCLUSION: Probiotics with rumenotorics were the most successful therapeutic regimen for the treatment of ruminal acidosis in sheep. Therefore, the use of probiotics with rumenotorics is the promising alternative for the treatment of acidosis.