Cow overate crushed grain: what to do at home

In farmsteads where they keep cows and other animals, there are situations when cows eat food intended for other cattle, crushed grain, compound feed from storage sites, and not discarded waste. What should I do if the cow has overeaten crushed grain or other carbohydrate feed that can quickly ferment in the stomach and harm the condition of the animal? Let's analyze what the danger is, what are the symptoms, treatment and prevention of this condition.

The dangers of overeating

Cows develop a number of conditions as a result of overeating high carbohydrate feed. If treatment is not taken, they can quickly replace each other in the order of aggravation of symptoms up to the threat to the life of the animal.The development of a series of painful conditions is associated with changes in the cow's stomach, namely in its main section - the scar.

As a result of overeating wheat, barley and corn, the condition of a cow is mild to moderate, since these cereals are easily digestible, oats are more severe, its grain is more difficult to digest. After crushed grain, the disease develops faster than after whole grains, and leads to more fatal results. The danger of consuming compound feed is that its components can cause increased fermentation in the rumen. Overeating alfalfa, cabbage, beets leads to the same consequences.

The initial pathological condition is swelling of the scar - tympania. Further fermentation of the compressed feed in it leads to the accumulation of fluid - acidosis, followed by a sharp decrease in the acidity of the contents of the rumen and a change in beneficial microflora to pathological. The next stage, when pathogens release toxins into the blood, is characterized by inhibition of cardiac activity, kidney function and is a very alarming condition, leading to the death of the animal.

If the animal manages to overcome the state of severe poisoning of the body as a result of overeating, there may be long-term consequences in the form of fungal lesions of the scar, liver abscesses for several months, which significantly reduces the life expectancy of the animal. If a pregnant cow overeats, she may abort after 10-14 days.

Factors causing indigestion

A sharp transition from one type of feed to another, an excess of grain feed in the daily diet can provoke inflammation of the scar. In cows after the dry period, the rumen shrinks, and a sharp increase in the amount of feed during the onset of pregnancy can also lead to acidosis. It is important not to let the scar shrink.

The amount of compound feed in the diet is reduced by 2-3 months and high-quality roughage is left.

Other factors of the stomach malfunctioning are feeding with low-quality feed, the predominance of frozen or rotting foods in the feed - apples, potatoes, carrots, cabbage. For the normal state of cows, from 10 to 15-20 kg of grain or feed mass can be dangerous. At the same time, the microbial population in the rumen completely changes in 2-6 hours.

Signs and symptoms of overeating

Initially, cows belch from excess flatulence and tympania, and the animals drink a lot. As fluid accumulates, belching disappears, thirst is replaced by a complete rejection of water, a sharp increase in dehydration and anuria.

Other signs of overeating include:

no food, no chewing gum;
diarrhea - masses of manure fetid, yellow, with undigested particles;
bloating, rumbling in the scar or lack of movement in it (hypo- and atony);
salivation increases;
drying of the upper lip and nose;
increased breathing and heart rate;
increased body temperature (rare);
oppressed or aggressive state.

If the animal does not get up for 24-48 hours - this is an alarming sign, you need to immediately call the veterinarian!

With a loss of 10-12 percent of fluid from body weight, the prognosis for the life of the animal is unfavorable.

What should I do?

If it is noticed that the animal ate food that was not intended for him, fed uncontrollably, then you should make him move as much as possible, drink warm water or with chamomile infusion.With swelling and no movement in the scar, massage the left side of the abdomen counterclockwise.

To soften the grain lump, the animal is given vegetable oil to drink. With an increase in acidosis, a 5% soda solution is given in a volume of 5 l / 450 g of animal weight.

You may need to wash the scar. The animal is first given a large amount of water. The procedure is carried out using a hose 2.5-3 meters long and 3-4 centimeters in diameter, the tip is lubricated with fat or oil. The hose is not quickly directed into the scar, the free end is lowered below the level of the animal's stomach. Wait until the contents of the scar gradually come out. If the disease is severe, medical treatment is necessary:

sodium chloride droppers;
glucose injections;
vitamin B injections_{1 (thiamine) - 2-5 milliliters 2-3 times a day;}
After a few days of illness, antibiotics Macerobacillin, Tetracycline (100 g twice a day for an adult animal) are needed.
ruminators and emetics (Tympanol).

Diarrhea in an animal is a positive sign. It indicates that the body of the animal is actively getting rid of toxins, and after 3-4 days there is usually a return to normal nutrition. Worse, if the animal grows anuria, refusal of water, there is no defecation. Here you can not do without setting droppers.

Prevention measures and feeding requirements

In order to prevent indigestion in cows, it is important to do the following:

strictly adhere to the norms of feeding;
use high quality feed;
when transferring to other types of food, observe the principle of gradualness and at the same time give roughage in the form of hay to stimulate the stomach;
add minerals to feed - s alt, chalk;
use vitamin vegetables in the diet - carrots, pumpkin, fodder beets.

Attentive attitude to the wards, strict feeding discipline will help maintain the productivity and he alth of the animals.