SARA (Subacute Ruminal Acidosis) on animal and behavior in cattle: Review

Abstract

This review was carried out to update the research work carried out in recent years on the consequences of Subacute Ruminal Acidosis (SARA) in beef cattle and dairy cows on animal production and behavior. More than a thousand scientific articles published in the most varied repositories of agricultural sciences were consulted. In fact, SARA, which can be acute (visual) and subacute (perception over time) has a harmful effect on animal production and, consequently, on the profitability of different sectors (meat and milk). The clinical signs in the acute version is quickly perceptible due to the appearance of bloat and discomfort in the animals. However, the clinical sign, in the subacute, manifests itself only after several days or months. Overall, SARA reduces meat and milk production, alters food intake, reduces feed efficiency, increases animal discomfort and behavior and, consequently, the industry's profitability. In addition, it lowers immune responses and can worsen the symptoms of other diseases. In fact, SARA is more pronounced in dairy cows due to the volume of feed ingested; however, with increasing the feedlot with the use of high-grain diets, this situation manifests itself in beef cattle.