| Sumario: | A disorder observed in dairy cattle in the bumid tropics of Costa Rica is described The fundamental characteristic of this disorder is the great irregularity of the rumen contractions. The interval between contractions tend to become shorter and, in advanced cases, the undulating movements are continuous in the ventral section of the rumen The malady bas no apparent cause and clears up in from a few days to a month and a half However, as it is accompanied by a drastic reduction in milk production that often terminates the lactation emly, it is of economic importance
The pH of the milk is raised to above 68, even in cases of short duration Readings ranged from 6 81 to 7 19 in animals with no suspicion of mastitis complication These pH values retined to the normal levels of 6.75 to 6.78 when the symptoms of bypermotility of the rumen have disappeared This change in pH interfers with the diagnosis of mastitis when using color indicators.
It is believed that this disorder has only been observed in the tropics, and up to now has not been described in the literature.
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