Investigating Eremophila glabra as a bioactive agent for preventing lactic acidosis in sheep
P. G. Hutton A B C D , Z. Durmic A and P. E. Vercoe AA School of Animal Biology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
B CSIRO Livestock Industries, Private Bag, PO Wembley, WA 6913, Australia.
C Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
D Corresponding author. Email: p.g.hutton@massey.ac.nz
Animal Production Science 50(6) 449-453 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN09191
Submitted: 9 December 2009 Accepted: 6 April 2010 Published: 11 June 2010
Abstract
The Australian native plant Eremophila glabra was tested as a potential agent for preventing lactic acidosis in sheep after it was observed to be effective against acidosis in vitro. Ruminally fistulated wethers were infused via rumen cannula with single doses of kibbled wheat (14 g/kg bodyweight) and either virginiamycin (Eskalin500; AB, 80 mg/kg of wheat plus 100 g milled oaten hay/kg of wheat, n = 6), E. glabra (EG, 100 g freeze-dried and milled leaf material per kg of wheat, n = 10) or milled oaten hay (Control, 100 g milled oaten hay/kg of wheat, n = 16). Rumen samples were collected immediately before infusion and then 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16 and 24 h after the infusion. The samples were analysed for pH, D-lactate, volatile fatty acids (VFA) and osmolality. Rumen pH and D-lactate values indicative of acidosis were detected in the Control and EG groups. The pH nadir of the rumen was 12 h after the wheat infusion, at which time the values in the EG (pH = 4.87) and Control (pH = 5.09) groups were lower (P < 0.05) than in the AB group (pH = 5.63) and the D-lactate concentrations were higher (P < 0.05) in the EG and Control groups (24 mmol/L and 15 mmol/L, respectively) than in the AB group (0.9 mmol/L). At the same time, total VFA concentration was higher (P < 0.05) in the AB group (102 mmol/L) than in the Control (65 mmol/L) and the EG (14 mmol/L) groups. Rumen osmolality did not differ between groups. Virginiamycin was effective at preventing lactic acidosis. However, the inclusion of dried leaves from E. glabra at a similar level that was effective in vitro did not prevent lactic acidosis in vivo, and the reasons behind this remain unclear. The study demonstrates the difficulty in converting in vitro results to in vivo and highlights the need to test the plant at higher doses in vivo.
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