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Effect of Thiopeptin and Sodium Bicarbonate on the Prevention of Lactic Acidosis Induced in Sheep^{1 ,2,}

Oregon State University, Corvallis 97331>

Abstract

Four crossbred wethers were utilized in a randomized block design to test Thiopeptin, an antibiotic, at .25% of the amount of wheat given, two levels of NaHCO₃ (2 and 4%) expressed as a percentage of the wheat given, and a combination of the Thiopeptin (.25%) plus 2% NaHCO₃. Acidosis was induced in the four sheep (controls) by feeding cracked soft white wheat at 50 g/kgBW^.75 divided among three feedings given over an 8-hr period on the third day of the experiment. Additional wheat was given depending on rumen pH values at 0800 of the fourth day. All control sheep received wheat until rumen pH was below 4.5. Ruminal pH, rumen lactic and volatile fatty acid levels in rumen fluid were monitored four times daily for 96 hr postengorgement.

The 2 and 4% NaHCO₃ and the antibiotic plus 2% NaHCO₃ treatments were all effective in maintaining a higher pH than the control treatment (P<.01) and these treatments maintained a higher pH than the antibiotic by itself (P<05). Low concentrations of rumen lactic acid (<30 mM) were detected on the antibiotic treatment. All treatments were effective in preventing acute acidosis and none of the animals went off feed. The 4% NaHCO₃ treatment resulted in higher (P<.05) acetic acid concentrations than the treatments containing Thiopeptin. Treatments containing Thiopeptin resulted in increases in propionic acid (P<.01) and reduced acetic to propionic ratios compared to the buffer treatments. Differences in total volatile fatty acids or gross energy calculated from volatile fatty acids were not significant among the treatments.

¹ Technical Paper No. 5036, Oregon Agr. Exp. Sta.

² Research reported was supported in part by Merck & Co., Rahway, NJ and by Church & Dwight Co., Inc., New York.

³ Present address: Agricultural Industries & Services Div., Univ. of Minnesota Technical College, Waseca 56093.

⁴ Dept. of Animal Science.