[Systemic effects of ruminal acidosis following ruminal drinking in dairy calves. A retrospective analysis of 293 cases].

In a retrospective study the data of 293 young calves (age upon admission less than four weeks) with evidence of ruminal drinking (rumen pH < 6.0) were analyzed for possible associations between ruminal acidosis and various parameters of systemic acid-base metabolism (blood pH, blood levels of HCO3- and L-lactate, as well as anion gap). On the basis of the degree of ruminal acidosis (pH < 5.0/ > or = 5.0) and evidence of diarrhea, the animals were assigned to one of four groups. The results indicate that severe ruminal acidosis leads to disturbances of systemic acid-base metabolism in young calves, too. With additional diarrhea, those disturbances can be complex.