Goats and sheep cannot tolerate dramatic changes in their feed regimen. Unfortunately, many new breeders, producers and people new to hobby farms wanting to raise goats and sheep do not understand this, and many goats and sheep are dying unnecessarily due to over load of grains.
Grain overload
Rumen acidosis occurs whenever an animal that is usually fed mostly hay or forages suddenly consumes large amounts of high concentrate feeds or grains. Remember ruminants are cows,goats, sheep, deer, buffalo, giraffes, oxen and yaks. If these highly digestible carbohydrates are eaten in large amounts especially if they are finely ground ,as would be the case in chicken feed, can result in this acidosis condition which is also sometimes known as grain overload. Due to the smaller grain size, the bacteria present in the rumen are able to ferment these carbohydrates more quickly.
What is grain overload?
Grain overload (rumen acidosis, grain poisoning) occurs when cattle, sheep or goats and other ruminants eat large amounts of grain. The grain releases carbohydrate into the animal’s rumen and this rapidly ferments rather than being digested normally. Bacteria in the rumen produce lactic acid, resulting in acidosis, slowing of the gut, dehydration and often death.
What causes grain overload?
Wheat and barley are the most common causes of grain overload, but it occasionally occurs with oats and lupins., chicken and duck feed. Crushing or cracking of grain by a hammer mill increases the likelihood of grain overload, because these processes result in quicker release of carbohydrates.
Cases are often seen when:
1) Goats or sheep are suddenly grain fed without being gradually introduced to the grain or pellets
2) There is a sudden change in feeding regimen or in the grains being fed
3) Goats or sheep graze newly harvested paddocks where there may be spilled grain or unharvested areas
4) Goats and sheep get unplanned access to grain or pellets, chicken or duck feed where they have easy access.
Signs of grain overload:
Lack of rumination Depressed appearance Lying down Respiratory distress Teeth grinding Diarrhea or lack of feces Seizures Dehydration and thirst Bloating (of the left side of the abdomen) Cardiovascular collapse Staggery or tender gait and ‘sawhorse’ stance Deaths.
What are the treatments for grain overload?
Consult a veterinarian for a treatment plan, as treatment will vary according to the severity of the disease. Treatments include intravenous fluids, drenching with bicarbonate solution or milk of magnesia, intraruminal antibiotic injections, thiamine or steroid injections, and surgery for very valuable animals. Following grain overload, the rumen lining takes up to six weeks to repair, so recovering animals will show poor growth rates during this time.
How can I prevent grain overload?
Grain overload can be prevented by gradually introducing animals to grain or pellets. The amount of grain and the time taken to adapt goats, sheep or cattle to grain depends on availability of hay and other feed time of year type of grain being fed.
Keep feed containers including horse, cow, goat , sheep, pig, chicken and duck locked up away from livestock in separate area.
Watch for Dry or Free Gas Bloat
Eating too much grain,which results in indigestion, causes this type of bloat.In Free Gas Bloat, pockets of gas are formed and then trapped in the upper portions of the rumen. As the rumen becomes more and more distended, the goat is unable to belch and becomes bloated. A goat suffering from Dry Bloat stands stiffly with the tail up and appears very distressed with a swollen left flank. In many instances the farmer can recognize overfeeding by discovering that an errant animal had breached the grain storage room.
Treatment of Dry Bloat involves an understanding of the indigestion caused by grain overload, which usually results in the production of acids. A goat is said to be suffering from acidosis in this case and the bloat is treated with a preparation that counters the acid pH of the rumen. Milk of Magnesia or a handful of bicarbonate of soda can help to disperse the gas as well as to make the pH of the rumen more alkaline.
Questions and Answers
1) I think my two 5 month old kids ate chicken scratch ? Ken Brown Dvm ……..try to make sure they drink lots of water and only feed hay for next 2 days
2)My 5 year old doe opened goat feed can and ate large amount 2 days ago, should i give characoal? she is not chewing cud.
Ken Brown Dvm…….not chewing cud is a problem – get her back to hay and can also give a probiotic charcoal not helpful, really – no toxins to bind when only eaten food – best idea is to flush the system with lots of water as dilutes the feed and can improve passage time massage the rumen and get her up and walking
3)My buck just ate feed chicken feed what can happen ? Dr. Sandra Baxendell…….. can cause rumen acidosis however – watch for signs signs of gut pain.
4) My herd just invaded my horses bag of feed. Ken Brown Dvm…… lots of water – hay only next 24 hours. monitor for bloat and if present can try some mineral oil .. pepto bismol an option as well all depends on how much eaten.
Treatment….. Their actions and activity level determine how bad it may be – is dose dependent .. how much eaten to how much goat weighs
Dr.Sandra Baxendell……………….. Baking soda is recommended for any grain overdose as is milk of magnesia to balance out the acid being produced in the rumen from the bacteria breaking down the grain. 100 grams of baking soda as a paste is the dose for an adult goat so scale it back based on weight. The best treatment for sudden excess grain is an acid such as baling soda or milk of magnesia given straight away. Adults should get 100grams baking soda . Could also give 200 grams epsom salts in 300 ml water if find them straight away. Oral antibiotics can help but then need to replace rumen bacteria by a cud transfer from a normal goat. Keep up the Vit Bs , water and electrolytes and lots of hay and leaves and branches.
Those who also have chickens…please keep in mind….. Not a good idea to keep around goats. Chicken feed is formulated very differently and is likely to cause growth abnormalities, bloat, and rumen acidosis or possible urinary calculi.
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