Abstract

Ruminal tympany, also known as bloat, is a disease of ruminant animals, characterized by an excessive volume of gas in the rumen, an over distention of the rumenoreticulum with the gases of fermentation either in the form of a persistent foam mixed with the ruminal contents, or in the form of free gas separated from the ingesta. Bloating can be divided into primary (frothy/wet bloat) and secondary tympany (free gas/dry bloat). Foamy bloat occurs when cattle consume feeds that are readily digestible, such as finely ground grains and high-quality alfalfas, clovers and cereal grain forage. This study revealed that the prevalence of frothy bloat in and around Kebele Lencha were 79.3% and the mortality rate of frothy bloat and prevalence of frothy bloat among the age (adult, young) and sex (males, females of bovine species in and around Kebele Lencha were about 25.4% and (81.9%, 66.7%), (86%, 73.1%) respectively. Therefore, there was statistically significant difference (P<0.05) between mortality rates of the frothy bloat in age and sex bovine species. In generally poor feeding management and presenting animals to high protein rich leguminous plant and forage unto ruminant animals, therefore this study forward some recommend for owner, in order to keep the feeding management and special support for ruminant animals, cause the prevalence of frothy bloat. The objective of this study was to conduct the prevalence, identifying causative agent and prevention of frothy bloat in bovine animals at study area.

Keywords: Bloat line; Epidemiology; Frothy bloat; Leguminous plants; Mortality rate; Prevalence