Bloat Prevention and Treatment in Cattle

Bloat Prevention and Treatment in Cattle Bloat is a form of indigestion marked by excessive accumulation of gas in the rumen. Immediately aft Most of the gases are eliminated by eructation (belching).

Immediately after cattle consume a meal, the digestive process creates gases in the rumen. Any interruption of this normal gas elimination results in gas accumulation or bloat. Bloat can be caused by:

a condition secondary to acidosis indigestion,
certain proteins in forage,
the amount, rate of intake, and coarseness of the roughage,
rate of digestion of grains as a result of processing (grinding

too fine),
host-parasite reaction following grub treatment choking,
enlargement of the lymph nodes between the lungs, which can compress the esophagus or interfere with the function of the vagus nerves, or
an inherited tendency for bloat. Trapped gases that are not eructated (belched) may form a foam or froth in the rumen that further prevents elimination of gases. Froth can be formed by many factors resulting from interactions among the animal, rumen microorganisms, and differences in plant biochemistry. Bloat may also be present with no evident froth or foam, described respectively as frothy (pasture) bloat and non-frothy (dry) bloat. The most common is frothy bloat where gas builds up in a foam or froth above the liquid/semi-liquid fraction of the rumen content and the normal belching is inhibited. Preventing bloat is desirable not only to reduce deaths but also to reduce the negative effect of bloat on cattle performance. Pasture (frothy) bloat can occur in animals grazing wheat pasture or lush legumes (alfalfa, ladino, white clover) or being fed green-chopped legumes. Feedlot (dry) bloat usually refers to bloat in cattle fed high-grain rations that may or may not contain legume forage. It often occurs secondary to acidosis and/or rumenitis. Cattle consuming feedlot diets may have bloat caused by the grain portion being ground too finely. Fine-ground grains are digested rapidly, causing rapid fermentation and gas production. Visual signs of bloat in cattle include:

distension of the left side of the animal as the primary sign,
discomfort as indicated by stomping of feet or kicking at the belly,
labored breathing,
frequent urination and defecation, and
sudden collapse.

Feedlot bloat is most frequently associated with indigestion caused by acidosis. Death losses are minimal in well-manage...
31/08/2022

Feedlot bloat is most frequently associated with indigestion caused by acidosis. Death losses are minimal in well-managed feedlots.

Most cases are “subacute” rather than “acute.” In acute cases, distress symptoms such as frequent urination and defecation, labored breathing, and restless movements are evident. In some feedlot cattle, bloat is chronic, occurring repeatedly in a few cattle.

Poloxalene does not appear to be effective in preventing feedlot bloat even though foam (and often, slime) is involved. Ionophores (examples: Rumensin®, Bovatec®, Cattlyst®) improve the feed efficiency of high-grain rations and help reduce overeating and the incidence of grain bloat. Thus, the use of ionophores is highly recommended.

Following are some changes that may prove effective in reducing the frequency and severity of feedlot bloat:

Coarsely chop the hay and mix with grain.
Increase hay to 15 percent of ration dry matter.
Feed 50 percent or more rolled corn, whole corn, or rolled grain sorghum (milo).
Use a coarser grind on corn and grain sorghum.
Substitute low-quality legume or non-legume roughage for alfalfa hay. (Adjust the protein, vitamin, and mineral supplement appropriately.)
Increase the concentration of the ionophore if possible.
Feedlot bloat that occurs on high-concentrate rations usually can be reduced by providing 10 to 15 percent of the ration as coarsely chopped roughage. When separation of the grain or supplement from roughage seems to be involved, change the ration or improve mixing to minimize separation.

Grazing ManagementNever turn hungry livestock into a pasture containing a high proportion of bloat-causing plants.Fill a...
31/08/2022

Grazing Management
Never turn hungry livestock into a pasture containing a high proportion of bloat-causing plants.
Fill animals with dry hay or grass pasture before beginning to graze high bloat-potential pastures.
Avoid turning animals onto fresh, high bloat-potential pasture that is moist with dew, rain, or irrigation water. Both rate of intake and initial rate of digestion are higher from moist plants, causing more rapid initial digestion.
Make paddock rotations mid-day or later to help minimize moisture and increase plant carbohydrate concentration.
Avoid dramatic changes in forage quality when rotating from paddock to paddock by leaving adequate residue.
Observe livestock closely the first several days and remove any “chronic-bloating” animals.
Avoid grazing legumes before they begin to bloom. This may not be possible if spring grazing or if grazing season-long. Make closer observations for bloat when many plants are at a younger growth stage.
Manage grazing to encourage livestock to consume low- or non-bloating plants and plant parts rather than just succulent top growth. For example, use daily strip grazing or use high stock density in multiple paddock systems rather than continuous stocking.
Never allow animals grazing high bloat-potential pasture to get so hungry that they consume too much in one feeding. Always have sufficient feed available.
Once grazing begins, don’t remove animals from pasture or make frequent, major changes in the type of pasture being grazed unless animals have greatly distended rumens. Mild bloat is common on high bloat-potential pastures. Frequent diet changes prevent rumen microbes and animals from adapting to bloat pastures.
Be extra observant for cattle bloat when high bloat plants show a rapid flush of growth such as during cloudy, wet periods in the spring and after a plant stress event such as hail or drought.
Delay grazing high bloat-potential plants for three to five days after freeze damage.
Graze with animals that have smaller rumen capacities, like yearlings and calves, rather than mature cows.

Livestock Diet SupplementsFeed anti-foaming chemicals like poloxalene, which prevents pasture bloat for about 12 hours i...
31/08/2022

Livestock Diet Supplements
Feed anti-foaming chemicals like poloxalene, which prevents pasture bloat for about 12 hours if consumed in adequate amounts. Begin feeding two to five days before turning onto pasture. Poloxalene can be fed as a topdressing on feed, in a grain mixture, in liquid supplements, or in molasses blocks. Because poloxalene is relatively expensive, some producers reduce the dosage or eliminate its use after livestock have been grazing pasture for several weeks.
Provide supplements or molasses blocks containing bloat-reducing compounds such as an ionophore (example: Rumensin®).
Provide mineral supplements with adequate sodium (salt) and avoid excessive potassium, calcium, and magnesium.
Allow livestock free-choice access to portions of pasture windrowed several days prior to grazing or to dry-grass hay, grain, or crop residues while grazing lush, high bloat-potential plants.

Management Practices to Reduce the Incidence or Severity of Pasture BloatPasture Establishment and ManagementPlant mixtu...
31/08/2022

Management Practices to Reduce the Incidence or Severity of Pasture Bloat
Pasture Establishment and Management
Plant mixtures of legume and grass with legumes providing no more than 50 percent of the available forage. Observe plant growth rates and legume-grass proportions throughout the growing season.
Plant non-bloating legumes like birdsfoot trefoil, cicer milkvetch, sainfoin, and lespedeza or lower-risk legumes like sweet clover and red clover.
Avoid patches of palatable, high bloat-potential plants. Interseed these areas with grasses or use herbicides to reduce concentration of high bloat plants.
Fertilize grass/legume pastures with nitrogen to stimulate grass production.

31/08/2022

Preventing Pasture Bloat
Type of forage, weather, time of day, mineral nutrition, animal characteristics (adapted to feeds/forages), and rumen conditions all influence the likelihood of animals bloating. Alfalfa, forage r**e, wheat, and many clovers (including white, ladino, sweet, and red) cause bloat more than grasses or other commonly grazed forages. Some animals, more selective in their grazing, may consume a diet higher in bloat-causing plants than other animals.
Cooler than normal temperatures (especially at night) are usually associated with bloat. Reasons may include higher forage intake by animals during cool weather and that plants initially are digested more rapidly when grown at lower temperatures. Cattle also tend to bloat more frequently in the morning, possibly because their biggest meal occurs at this time.
You can reduce bloating by feeding purchased anti-bloating supplements, but this can be expensive. Often, proper grazing management can reduce or eliminate bloat problems as effectively as purchased supplements. Proper grazing management techniques involve providing a consistent and steady diet and controlling access to high bloat-potential plants, especially under moist or succulent conditions.
When you provide a consistent or gradual change in forage quality and plant species, you maintain uniform rumen conditions and reduce the chance of hungry animals overeating. Livestock graze the highest quality forage at the beginning of the grazing period and a lower quality at the end. Using rotational grazing (short grazing periods that leave substantial residue) results in relatively uniform forage quality throughout the grazing period. In addition, the diet change from a grazed paddock to a fresh paddock is minimized.

Bloat is a form of indigestion marked by excessive accumulation of gas in the rumen. Immediately after cattle consume a ...
31/08/2022

Bloat is a form of indigestion marked by excessive accumulation of gas in the rumen. Immediately after cattle consume a meal, the digestive process creates gases in the rumen. Most of the gases are eliminated by eructation (belching).
Any interruption of this normal gas elimination results in gas accumulation or bloat. Bloat can be caused by:
a condition secondary to acidosis indigestion
certain proteins in forage
the amount, rate of intake, and coarseness of the roughage
rate of digestion of grains as a result of processing (grinding too fine)
host-parasite reaction following grub treatment choking
enlargement of the lymph nodes between the lungs, which can compress the esophagus or interfere with the function of the vagus nerves
an inherited tendency for bloat
Trapped gases that are not eructated (belched) may form a foam or froth in the rumen that further prevents elimination of gases. Froth can be formed by many factors resulting from interactions among the animal, rumen microorganisms, and differences in plant biochemistry. Bloat may also be present with no evident froth or foam, described respectively as frothy (pasture) bloat and non-frothy (dry) bloat. The most common is frothy bloat where gas builds up in a foam or froth above the liquid/semi-liquid fraction of the rumen content and the normal belching is inhibited.
Preventing bloat is desirable not only to reduce deaths but also to reduce the negative effect of bloat on cattle performance. Pasture (frothy) bloat can occur in animals grazing wheat pasture or lush legumes (alfalfa, ladino, white clover) or being fed green-chopped legumes. Feedlot (dry) bloat usually refers to bloat in cattle fed high-grain rations that may or may not contain legume forage. It often occurs secondary to acidosis and/or rumenitis. Cattle consuming feedlot diets may have bloat caused by the grain portion being ground too finely. Fine-ground grains are digested rapidly, causing rapid fermentation and gas production.
Visual signs of bloat in cattle include: distension of the left side of the animal as the primary sign, discomfort as indicated by stomping of feet or kicking at the belly, labored breathing, frequent urination and defecation, and sudden collapse.

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