Every year, a day after ‘Mattu Pongal’, a strange incident takes place at the Madras Veterinary College in Vepery. Cows, oxen, goats and sheep that appear tired and unable to walk will be brought in by their owners.
“There will be around 20 animals in our college. Animals with similar characteristics are also found in veterinary dispensaries in other areas. This means that they are extremely ill due to SARA – subacute ruminal acidosis – and if such animals are not treated immediately, they may die,” P. Selvaraj, Professor of Medicine, Madras Veterinary College. He said that eating excessive amounts of Pongal, rice and other sweets on the day of ‘Mattu Pongal’ causes ruminal acidosis.
“These sugary foods that reach the cow’s stomach become abnormally fermented and cause health problems in cows and other ruminant animals; this is called SARA. In severe cases, it is called ruminal acidosis. If too much acid is produced in the stomach due to excessive sugary substances, it can also be fatal,” he said, advising people to feed grass and ‘agathi keerai’ to animals.
When an animal is brought in for treatment, veterinarians will collect rumen fluid and check their microbial status. Appropriate treatment will be given based on the health of the stomach of the cow. But it will take several days for the animal to recover; During the recovery period, there will be a drastic reduction in milk yield.
Festival-related ruminal acidosis, however, is found mostly in cattle in urban areas, where people go to great lengths to feed sweets to animals. It is not only the owners but also other people who feed the animals on this occasion. Cows, bulls, goats and sheep roaming the streets of urban areas fall prey to the culture of feeding sweets on the day of ‘Mattu Pongal’.
Animals get sick because ruminal acidosis destroys millions of microbes, including a variety of tiny organisms called protozoa, bacteria and other microbial organisms that live in their stomachs. Dr. Selvaraj said that these microbes help cattle to digest grass, hay and other fodder and enable them to produce palatable milk.
“Give them the minimum possible amount of sweets and a lot of paddy straw or green fodder. This fodder helps in better digestion and better milk yield. Feed items provide a substrate for the millions of microbes to act on them and keep the gut in very good health. A good stomach is essential for good health,” said Dr. Selvaraj.
He advised people to avoid feeding cows leftover food from ceremonies or weddings and low cost rice.
,