Comparative study of ruminal disorders with pathophysiology of ruminal fluid and hematological changes in sheep, Northwest Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine prevalence and risk factors of ruminal disorders with identification of pathophysiological changes of rumen fluid and blood in sheep from January to June, 2019 in and around Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia. One hundred seventy two sheep were selected by systematic random sampling technique and 21 apparently healthy sheep were selected by purposive sampling technique. Complete case history and clinical signs were recorded. Samples (rumen fluid and blood) were collected and analysed in the laboratory. The data was analysed using SPSS version 20. The prevalence of ruminal disorders in sheep was 55.2% and identified major types of ruminal disorders were simple indigestion (25.6%), ruminal acidosis (20.35%), ruminal tympany (5%) and ruminal alkalosis (4.1%). The most prominent clinical signs recorded in sheep with ruminal disorders were anorexia and inappetence followed by diarrhoea, dullness, dehydration, bloat and abdominal pain. Ruminal motility and protozoal motility were significantly (p<0.05) reduced where as percentage of PCV was significantly increased (p<0.05) in sheep ’s with ruminal disorders. Sedimentation activity time was significantly reduced in sheep with ruminal acidosis however, it was significantly (p<0.05) increased in ruminal alkalosis (p<0.05). Color, consistency and odour were affected during ruminal disorders. In multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that Male sex; extensive farming system (AOR=6.358; 95% CI: 1.335-30.285), Crop residue and concentrate feed (AOR=23.01; 95% CI: 8.364-08.201), sudden change of feed (AOR=32.911, 95% CI: 7.959-136.092) and moldy feed (AOR=20.807, 95%CI: 6.245-69.325) were significantly (p<0.05) associated with occurrence of ruminal disorders in sheep.


INTRODUCTION
The ruminant stomach consists of a complex ecosystem where nutrients consumed by ruminants digested via fermentation process, which executed with diverse microorganisms such as bacteria, protozoa, and fungi. These diverse microorganisms affected by different gastrointestinal problems including ruminal disorders such as simple indigestion, ruminal acidosis, alkalosis, tympany and results in changes in rumen environment accompanied by clinical signs such as anorexia, diarrhoea, depression, dehydration, weakness and apathy (Agarwal et al., 2015).
Simple indigestion is characterized by inappetence to anorexia, atony of forestomch, lack of rumination, full stomach and diarrhoea (Tyagi et al., 2018). It is mainly caused by the dietary abnormalities of minor degree including indigestible ingestion of poor digestible roughage, particularly when the protein intake is low, ingestion of moldy feed, ingestion of damaged (cold or heat) feed, abrupt feed changes, and moderate excesses of grain and concentrate intake. Indigestible roughage may include straw, bedding or scrub fed during drought periods. Moreover, prolonged or heavy oral dosing with antimicrobials may cause indigestion due to inhibition of the normal ruminal flora [Asrat and Melkamu, 2015].
Ruminal acidosis is the condition in which the pH of ruminal fluid is generally less than 5.5. It develops from sudden ingestion of large quantity of carbohydrate rich diet, such as grain, causing proliferation of lactic acid producing bacteria in the rumen particularly Streptococcus bovis. The type of diet affects the number and species of bacteria and protozoa in the rumen and a change is required for microbial adaptation. Therefore, in the absence of this adaptation period, major decrease in ruminal pH leads to translocation of ruminal microflora causing ruminal atony with heavy mortality (Kothari et al.,2018).
Rumen alkalosis can occur with the generation of excessive ammonia in the rumen. Ammonia concentrations rise when high-protein diets are fermented. More dramatic, elevations in ammonia concentration with rumen fluid pH above 7.3 followed the overfeeding of non-protein nitrogen sources such as urea, biuret and ammonium phosphate (Kothari et al.,2018).
Ruminal tympany is abnormal distension of the rumen and reticulum caused by excessive retention of the gases of fermentation; either in the form of persistent foam mixed with the rumen contents (frothy bloat) or as free gas separated from the ingesta. According to the aetiology, we can define two different form of ruminal tympany; primary ruminal tympany or secondary ruminal tympany (Abdisa, 2018).
Ruminal disorders in sheep cause significant economic loss to the producers. In north western Ethiopia, due to the lack of intensive works on ruminal disorders, clinical characterizations as well as its associated factors are not well identified. Moreover, as per the case inflow of small ruminants of veterinary Clinics of north western Ethiopia reported large number of ruminal disorders (Amhara agricultural and livestock development Beraue, 2018). So, to effectively manage and control the problem, the types of ruminal disorders and its associated factors should be identified. Therefore, this study was to estimate the prevalence of ruminal disorders, assess its associated risk factors , evaluate pathophysiological changes in rumen liquor and also to evaluate hematological parameter in relation to ruminal disorders in sheep of the study area.

Study Area
The study was conducted in and around Gondar, capital of Central Gondar zone in Amhara regional state, Northwest Ethiopia. It is located 750 km Northwest of the capital city, Addis Ababa and situated between 12°36'N and 33°28'E at an altitude of about 2300 m above sea level with an average temperature of 20°C and an average annual rainfall of 1800 mm (Metrology Agency, 2013).

Study Design and Sampling Technique
A cross-sectional study design was conducted from January 2018 to June, 2019 to determine the prevalence of rumenal disorders and its associated factors with identification of rumen fluid and blood pathophysiological changes in sheep of Northwest Ethiopia. One hundred seventy two sheep were selected by systematic randomly sampling technique from sheep that came to public veterinary clinics of the study area. Twenty one apparently healthy sheep were selected by purposive sampling technique from small holder farms.

Sample Size Determination
The sample size was determined according to (Thrusfield, 2005). Previous study conducted by Shah et al. (2013) on the prevalence of ruminal disorders in sheep showed 12.4%. Therefore, using 12.4% as expected prevalence and 5% absolute precision at 95% confidence level.
Where, N=Sample size; Pexp=Expected prevalence; D 2 =Absolute precision; Complete history was recorded to build up a reasonable list for differential diagnosis. Detailed information regarding the type of diet, recent or historical changes in components and exposure to mouldy feed were recorded. The sheep's were examined and evaluated for vital signs such as temperature, heart rate, respiration and ruminal motility.

Ruminal liquor
Fifteen up to twenty milliliter of ruminal fluid was collected as per (Bassert, 2010).

Ororuminal collection
Ororuminal collection was accomplished with appropriate manual handling and restraining of the sheep.
It was done by standing close to sheep, wrap arm around top of sheep's neck using hand to open mouth, and then the orogastric tube was passed through the mouth, down the throat and into the rumen. The tube was confirmed as being in the rumen by gurgling sounds heard as well as the scent of fermented rumen fluid (sour-sweetish) detected. Once the tube was confirmed to be in place, either of the two methods was used for collecting the fluids as denoted below: First method the collection was begun by kinking the tube, which traps fluid in the end of the tube by negative pressure. The tube was swiftly and gently withdrawn and empties the fluids into the waiting vessel. Second method after confirming the placement of the tube in the rumen, the dosing syringe was attached to the tube and aspirate to maximum ability, then tube was kink and withdraw slowly and steadily; empty fluid immediately into collection vessel.

Ruminocentesis
Ruminocentesis was done to collect rumen liquor particularly from those severely ill sheep and which

Physical rumen liquor examination
Physical examination of rumen liquor was performed for its colour, smell, consistency and appearance.

Sedimentation activity test and pH of ruminal fluid
Fresh rumen fluid was added in to a test tube and kept for 4-8 minutes. The sedimentation or floatation activity was evaluated according the time taken by the feed particles to sediment or float, which was used to evaluate the microbial activity (Mohamed, 2014). PH of ruminal fluid was measured immediately after collection of ruminal liquor by ruminocentesis from ruminal disorder suspected sheep using AD 111 PH meter.

Methylene blue reduction test
Methylene blue reduction test (MBRT) was done to assess the number of functional anaerobic bacteria available within the rumen. A test tube was filled up with 10 mL of fresh rumen liquor. To this 0.5 mL of a 0.03% solution of Methylene Blue stain was added and a timer was set. Length of time takes for the rumen solution to clear of colour methylene blue was recorded. The solution which cleared within 2-6 minutes was indicative of adequate bacterial activity; greater than 6 up to < 10 minutes was considered as medium bacterial activity and if >10 minutes was considered as having inadequate number of bacterial activity according to (Bassert, 2010).

Ruminal protozoal motility
Ruminal protozoal motility was recorded after collection of fresh rumen liquor.

Blood collection and hematological analysis
Owing to the resentment encountered by various owners, blood samples were collected the sheep. From each animal, about 5 mL whole blood was collected aseptically with the help of a disposable syringe from the jugular vein and transferred into the screw capped tubes containing 0.5 ml of 1% ethylene diamine tetra acetate (EDTA) solution as an anticoagulant. The pH of blood, red blood cell (RBC), PCV and Hb were determined as described by Zein-Eldin et al., (2014).

Data Management and Analysis
The collected data was entered and thoroughly screened for errors, and then analysis using SPSS version 20. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were conducted to assess the association between dependent and independent variable. Independent t-test was used to compare ruminal fluid and haematological values between healthy control and sheep with ruminal disorders. P-value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant with 95% confidence level (CI).

Ethical considerations
The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Official permission was also obtained from the respective bodies at Amhara Regional livestock development agency. Verbal informed consent was obtained from each study unit owners after being informed about the study.

Prevalence of Ruminal Disorders in Sheep
Out of 172 sheep 95 (55.2%) were with ruminal disorders. The highest prevalence of ruminal disorder among sheep came to veterinary clinics recorded was simple indigestion, 25.6%, followed by ruminal acidosis, ruminal tympany and ruminal alkalosis with the prevalence of 20.35%, 5% and 4.1%, respectively.

Ruminal Disorders
In the current study, the prevalence of ruminal disorder (55.2%)) was higher than the findings of Shah et al. (2013) who stated that the prevalence of ruminal disorder in sheep was 12.4%. The prevalence of simple indigestion noted in this study was (25.6%,). This finding is higher than the study finding of Shah et al. (2013) who stated that the prevalence of simple indigestion in sheep was 18.04%. This might be due to improper feeding management such as feeding excessive amounts of non-structural carbohydrates and highly fermentable forages and insufficient dietary coarse fibre (Plaizie et al., 2008). In the present study, the prevalence of ruminal acidosis in sheep was (20.35%). This prevalence was lower than the findings of 32.13% by Suresh et al. (2006), 42.1% by Henning et al. (2010) and 9.02% by Shah et al. (2013). These variations might be as a result of different management practices. In this study, sheep rearing in semi intensive farming system was significantly associated with bloat in sheep which is in agreement with Lessire and Knapp (2017) and Bailey (2014). This might be due to the fact that sheep rearing in semi intensive farming system were exposed to roughage and concentrate feed without any regularity in the study area. Feeding mouldy feed was also significantly associated with the occurrence of ruminal tympany (bloat).

Clinical Findings Recorded in Sheep with Ruminal Disorders
In the present study, the most prominent clinical sign recorded in sheep with simple indigestion was diarrhoea (81%). Respiratory rate of sheep suffering from simple indigestion was significantly (p<0.01) increased as compared to healthy sheep's. However, ruminal motility of sheep's suffering from simple indigestion was significantly (P<0.05) decreased as compared to healthy sheep. Among the sheep's suffering from ruminal acidosis, major clinical sign recorded was anorexia (97%) whereas in ruminal alkalosis was (86%) ( Table-1).  (6) 48% (3) In the present study, the heart and respiratory rate of sheep's suffering from ruminal acidosis were significantly (p<0.01) increased as compared to healthy control group. Moreover, rectal temperature as well as ruminal motility were significantly (p<0.01) decreased when compared to healthy control group.
Respiratory rate was significantly (p<0.01) increased in sheep with ruminal alkalosis as compared to healthy group. In comparison to both acidotic sheep's and healthy group, the ruminal motility was significantly (p<0.01) reduced and graded as low motility (71.4%) and completely absent motility (28.6%) in sheep's suffering from alkalosis. Moreover, there was no significant difference in heart rate and rectal temperature of sheep's affected with ruminal acidosis when compared to healthy group. Heart and respiration rate were significantly (p<0.01) increased, whereas ruminal motility was significantly (p<0.01) decreased in sheep with tympany as compared to healthy one ( Table-2). Min=minute * = P < 0.05 ** = P < 0.01 *** = P < 0.001 With regard to clinical signs, the sheep's suffering from simple indigestion showed anorexia and in appetence, followed by dullness, diarrhoea, bloat, abdominal pain and dehydration. This result is in close agreement with the study finding of Lessire and Knapp (2017) who also reported similar findings.
Regarding physical parameters, there was no significant difference in vital signs (body temperature, heart rate and respiratory rate) between sheep having simple indigestion and control group. This finding was in consistent with findings of Shah et al. (2017) who also reported similar findings. This might be due to the fact that simple indigestion is not usually a fatal disease. Moreover, in this condition, there is no systemic reaction therefore, pulse, temperature and respiration rates was not affected (Shah et al., 2017). Ruminal motility of sheep with simple indigestion was significantly (p<0.05) reduced as compared to control group. This finding was in agreement with the study conducted by Shah et al. (2017).
In this study, the major clinical signs recorded during ruminal acidosis were anorexia, in appetence, dullness, diarrhoea, bloat, abdominal pain and dehydration. This result was coincided with Shah et al. (2013). These clinical signs observed might be due to the fact that acidosis leads to depression of all the centres in the central nervous system. Moreover, it may also be due to disintegration of gram negative bacteria (normal microflora) which releases endotoxin causing endotoxemia (Mohamed, 2014). Diarrhoea due to ruminal acidosis might be because of significant production of volatile fatty acids and lactic acid.
This was as a result of the lactate-metabolizing protozoa are lost at a lower pH, the lactate which is osmotically active remains in the small intestine and colon can contribute to an osmotic pull of water through the para-cellular spaces and into the intestinal lumen causing diarrhoea (Lessire and Knapp, 2017). Bloat during ruminal acidosis might be due to a sudden increase in fermented carbohydrates in the rumen leading to rapid microbial overgrowth and subsequent cell lysis. Extracellular bacterial mucopolysaccharides (slime) and stored carbohydrates released during microbial cell lysis increase the viscosity of ruminal fluid trapping gas and forming the stable foam that leads to bloat (McAllister et al., 2005).
The presence of abdominal pain during ruminal acidosis might be as a result of lactic acid, which can cause severe damage to the rumen wall enabling bacterial or fungal invasion of the body. The dehydration at the time of ruminal acidosis might be due to loss of water from the blood which results an increase blood osmolality and packed cell volume, leading to dehydration in the animal. Furthermore, rate of absorption of VFA from the rumen is enhanced at low pH. When acid absorption exceeds metabolism, these compounds can accumulate in blood and increase blood osmolality further (Penner et al., 2007).
In the present study, temperature of acidotic sheep was significantly (p<0.01) reduced as compared to control group. This finding is in agreement with the study findings of Shah et al. (2013). This might be due to the reduction in metabolism and hence, dehydration resulting from the loss of intravenous cellular fluid into the rumen and from osmotic diarrhoea. In this study, heart rate was significantly (p<0.01) increased as compared to the control group. Similar results were observed by Mousa et al. (2013). The increased heart rate might be due to accumulated lactic acid that after absorption caused severe acidosis, hemoconcentration, fall in plasma volume and circulatory failure (Shah et al., 2013). In the current study, the respiratory rate was also significantly (p<0.01) increased as compared to the healthy control. This finding is also reported by Mohamed (2014). The increased respiratory rate might be explained by stimulation of respiratory centres by lowed pH (Radostits et al., 2007). Regarding rumen motility, the present study revealed that there was significant (p<0.01) reduction of rumen motility in acidotic sheep than control group. Similar results were also observed by Mousa et al. (2013). The reduction of rumen motility might be due to failure of muscular contractions of rumen/ reticulum because of accumulation of lactic acid leading to chemical ruminitis.
The reported clinical signs of animals suffering from ruminal alkalosis were in accordance with Radostits et al., (2007), Karapinar et al. (2008), Mohamed (2014) and Shah and Hussain (2017). Respiration rate were found to be significantly (p<0.001) increased whereas ruminal motility (p<0.001) decreased in animals with ruminal alkalosis. This result is similar as reported earlier by Shah and Hussain (2017).The increased heart rate might be due to fall in plasma volume and effects of ammonia on central nervous system. Moreover, the increase in respiration rate could be attributed to accelerated pulmonary ventilation to excrete excess amount of ammonia from blood through lungs or due to stimulation (Radostits et al., 2000). In the current study, the recorded clinical signs were anorexia, inappetence, dullness, diarrhoea, 2009)). In the current study, body temperature, heart rate and respiratory rate were significantly (p<0.01) increased. These findings are in agreement with the study conducted by Mohamed (2014). The increased respiratory and heart rate might be due to the fact that interference of enlarged stomach with the relaxation and contraction of diaphragm and shortage of oxygen to the body (Lessire and Knapp, 2017).
In this study, ruminal motility was significantly (P < 0.01) reduced. This result is in agreement with the study conducted by Lessire and Knapp (2017). The decreased ruminal motility during ruminal tympany is due to the fact that during bloat all cells of the wall of stomach will stretch and resulting pain which hinder the motility of rumen.

Physical and Other Characteristics of Ruminal Fluid among Ruminal Disordered Sheep
The colour of the rumen fluid from majority of sheep's suffering from simple indigestion, ruminal acidosis, ruminal alkalosis and in bloated sheep was as dipected in Table; (3). Regarding rumen fluid analysis, the colour of rumen fluid taken from a majority of sheep's affected with simple indigestion was brownish green and has a minor difference from control group. This result was in agreement with the study finding of Ding and Xu (2006). The minor difference in colour of rumen fluid could be due to the minor changes in the environment of rumen and reticulum (Radostits et al., 2007). In the present study, the consistency of rumen fluid taken from sheep's affected with simple indigestion was lightly viscous and there was no major difference when compared to the control group. The minor difference in the consistency of rumen fluid might be as a result of minor feed changes that usually affects the process of normal digestion (Leonardo et al., 2014). Concerning odour of rumen fluid, the majority of rumen fluid taken from sheep affected by simple indigestion was aromatic odour and there was no difference from the control group. In this finding, the colour of rumen fluid obtained from acidotic sheep was different from control one and the majority of these affected sheep's were having milky grey colour.
This result is in agreement with the study findings of Randhawa et al. (1989) who also reported that in lactic acidosis of buffalo calves the colour of rumen liquor changed from brownish yellow to greyishyellow. The change of colour of rumen fluid from yellowish brown to milky grey might arise from excessive feeding on a concentrated diet such as Dashen brewery and other by-products.
In the present study, the smell of ruminal fluid obtained from acidotic sheep was different from the control group (aromatic odour) and the smell was pungent sour. Similar findings were observed by James (2011).
The protozoal motility during simple indigestion was graded as high motility (27.3%) and moderate motility (72.7%). The range of rumen liquor pH was found in both acidic and alkaline sides (5.6-6.5 in acidic side and 6.8-7.3 in alkaline side   sheep's suffering from simple indigestion and the control group. This result was in agreement with Leonardo et al. (2014). In the present study, the sedimentation activity test was significantly (p<0.01) reduced when compared to the control group. This result is in contradiction with the study findings of Randhawa et al. (1989), who reported a complete absence of SAT in acidosis which persisted throughout the period of observation. This variation might be due to the consumption of different types of feed that the affected sheep's might have taken (Radostits et al., 2007).
In the present study, pH of ruminal fluid was significantly ( Moreover, the lactate-producing bacteria, Streptococcus bovis increases, in acute ruminal acidosis, while lactate-utilizing species decrease. With a decrease in lactate-utilizing bacteria, lactate accumulates in the rumen during acute lactic acidosis. This will contribute further to a decreased or complete defaunation of ciliated protozoa in a low ruminal pH environment; and as a result the methylene blue reduction test (also called methylene blue decolourisation test), a decrease in the time necessary to convert the blue colour to white colour, as an index of redox potential (Shah et al., 2013).
Ruminal pH, SAT and MBRT of sheep's suffering from alkaline indigestion were found to be significantly (p<0.001) increased which also in agreement with the findings of Shah and Hussain (2017).
The increase in ruminal pH might be due to poor buffering capacity of ruminal fluid against production of large quantity of ammonia (Leonardo et al., 2014). The significant increase in SAT and MBRT could be ascribed to the destruction of normal rumen micro flora due to disturbed pH and accumulation of toxic levels of ammonia and other amines (Bailey, 2014). In the present study, the protozoal motility of animals suffering from alkaline indigestion was analyzed and graded. Karapinar et al. (2008) recorded similar findings in sheep with alkalosis. The reason for the development altered protozoal motility might be due to improper utilization and storage of glycogen by rumen protozoa affected by toxic levels of ammonia.

Hematological Changes among Ruminal Disordered Sheep
The blood pH was significantly (p< 0.01) reduced as compared to healthy animals. Haematological analysis of sheep's suffering from acidosis was performed as per established methods. Haemoglobin (Hb) estimation recorded showed a significant (p< 0.05) increase as compared to healthy group. Parameters such as packed cell volume (PCV) and total erythrocyte were significantly (p< 0.01) increased when compared with healthy group. Haematological analysis revealed significant (p<0.01) increase in packed cell volume as compared to healthy group. Similar trend was observed with hemoglobin which was significantly (p<0.05) increased as compared to healthy group. Significant (p<0.05) increase in PCV was recorded in sheep affected with ruminal tympany as compared to control group. However, there was nonsignificant difference in blood pH, Hb and total erythrocyte count when compared to healthy control group (Table-5). 12.92 ± 0.14 12.52±0.079 14.67 ± 0.088 ** 12.24 ± 0.122 13.22 ± 0.300 * = P < 0.05 ** = P < 0.01 *** = P < 0.001 In the present study, there were no statistically significant difference in hematological parameters (pH of blood, Red blood cell (RBC), PCV and Hb) between sheep's affected with simple indigestion and the control group. Blood pH did not differ significantly between sheep's with alkalosis and control.
Stabilization in the blood pH despite ruminal alkalosis could be attributed to buffering action of blood and different compensatory mechanisms such as pulmonary hyperventilation.

Rumenal Disorders Associated with Risk Factors
In the bivariate analysis and Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that sex  8.364-08.201). This might be mainly due to availability of hotel wastes like boiled rice, baker's waste, rotten potatoes and an increase in ration grain that overwhelms buffering ability of rumen bacteria leading to reduced performance and sometimes death (Lessire and Knapp, 2017).
In the present study, 86.48% of the study sheep were exposed to sudden change of feed and 79.41% sheep were taken mouldy feed. The risk of having ruminal disorder in sheep exposed to sudden change of feed was almost 33 times than in sheep without sudden change (constant amount and time) of feed (AOR=32.911, 95% CI: 7.959-136.092). This finding is in agreement with the finding of Suarez & Busetti (2009). Increased prevalence of rumenal disorder as a result of sudden change of feed might be due to the due to the fact that microorganism need time for adaptation of different types of feed as a result simple indigestion (Radostits, et al., 2007). The risk of acquiring ruminal disorder in sheep feeding moldy feed was nearly 20 times more likely than sheep didn't feed moldy feed (AOR=20.807, 95%CI: 6.245-69.325). This finding was also in line with the findings of Leonardo et al. (2014). High prevalence of rumenal disorder in sheep feeding mouldy feed might be due to consumption of mould-contaminated feed, and also, the levels of pancreatic lipase, amylase, trypsin, and chymotrypsin may be significantly reduced. This reduction in pancreatic enzyme levels results in insufficient digestion and absorption of protein, fat and carbohydrates (Shah and Hussain, 2017).

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
During this study, overall prevalence of ruminal disorder was half of the sheep cases attended in veterinary clinic. Out of this, the highest prevalence recorded was simple indigestion which was quarter of the cases, followed by ruminal acidosis, which was one fifth of the over all the cases attended in clinic.
Unlimited numbers of cases of ruminal tympany and ruminal alkalosis were also recorded. The prevalence of ruminal disorders were significantly associated with abrupt change of feed, feeding of excess carbohydrate diet, feeding of mouldy feed and feeding on decayed or putrefied materials as garbage. Therefore proper feeding practice with constant feeding patter in amount and time should be followed. Roughage and concentrate feed should be balanced and avoid decayed and mouldy feed during ration formulation. There was significantly variation in colour, consistency and odour of rumen fluid between control group and sheep with ruminal disorders. Sedimentation activity time and MBRT were also significantly altered in sheep having ruminal disorders as compared to control group. There was significantly difference between PCV, Hb and TEC of sheep suffering by ruminal disorders and control one. Further study on the bicarbonate level of sheep suffering from ruminal disorders and ration formulation of sheep feed will help to improve and control the problem.