Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Rumen stone causing weight loss in a Bapedi ram
By Leask, Rhoda & Bath, Gareth F·Published in Journal of the South African Veterinary Association·2012·Department of Production Animal Studies·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Rumenolith formation in a Bapedi ram.
- Species:
- sheep
Plain-English summary
A Bapedi ram was losing weight and not improving despite being fed extra food. During a check-up, the vet found a large foreign body in the ram's stomach, which was made up of synthetic fiber and plant material. The vet performed surgery to remove this mass, which had formed because the ram was trying to eat more by consuming the synthetic fiber. After the surgery and continued special feeding, the ram recovered well and started to regain weight.
People also search for: ram losing weight · foreign body in sheep stomach · rumen surgery for sheep · synthetic fiber ingestion in rams
Abstract
During a routine flock visit, a farmer observed that one of the eight tooth Bapedi rams had been losing body condition despite being separated from the flock and fed supplementary feed. The ram's body condition score was assessed as 2 out of 5 (one point less than the average of the rest of the rams) and the teeth appeared normal with no excessive wear. The rumen was assessed by auscultation, palpation and ballottement where a foreign body (approximately 20 cm × 5 cm - 10 cm) was clearly palpated and ballotted. A rumenotomy was performed and a large mass of tightly compacted foreign matter and plant material was removed. The mass consisted of synthetic fibre, plant material and calcium phosphate (50.5%). It appeared to have formed as the result of the ingestion of a synthetic fibre which formed the nidus of a concretion. This was probably the result of deficient nutrition, with the rams eating the synthetic fibre in an attempt to increase feed intake. The ram recovered uneventfully after the rumenotomy was performed and supplementary feeding.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23327146/