Ruminant impaction is a condition which resulted from the accumulation of foreign bodies, such as plastic bags which interferes with the flow of ingesta leading to the distension of rumen and absence of defecation [8]. Indigestible foreign bodies in the reticulo-rumen cause recurrent rumen tympany in adult dairy cattle; trichobezoars have been found associated with acute rumen tympany in calves and young cattle (Schweizer et al. and Radostitis et al.) reported the problem to be a condition of great economic importance in cattle primarily due to indiscriminate feeding habits and causes severe loss of production and high mortality rates [9-11%]. Al-majali et.

CAUSE

• Typically dietary: excess fibrous diet with inadequate water supply, (low) protein forages.
• Some impactions can be secondary to pathologic disease processes, eg acute traumatic reticuloperitonitis/pericarditis, vagal indigestion etc.
• Careful diagnostic discrimination is required to enable appropriate treatment.
• Rumen impaction can occur due to dehydration, obstruction of omasal orifice by foreign body, sand ingestion or consumption of diets high in fiber and low in digestibility. In addition to developing firm, distended rumen, animals become dull and restless with reduced appetite and milk production. Shortening and stunting of the papillae with irregular distribution, and in some cases thinning of the walls were also observed (Hailat, 2009).

EFFECTS

It can be concluded that rumen impaction mainly causes depression, anorexia, reduced milk yield, abdominal distension and loss of defecation.

There are  signicant  alterations in  BUN,  protein, albumin, calcium, glucose and phosphorus in theaffected animals.

TREATMENT

Dietary adjustment, supportive treatment, surgery/ treatment of underlying pathologic cause if present (rumenotomy / exploratory laparotomy).

If Plastic bag is the cause of rumen impaction, rumenatomy (incision of the rumen) should be carried out because plastic bags are indigestible in nature and the plastic material which when accumulated in the rumen, cause obstruction of ingesta into the reticulum. Post-operative treatment include administration of d***s like Iron dextram, Multi Vitamins and some Anti-biotic e.g Penstrep, Oxytetracycline, Amoxicillin, Cloxacillin, Meloxicam (Melonexa), s/c and laxatives.

REFFERENCES

Abdullahi,U.S., Usman,G.S.H., Mshelia,T.A.,

1984. Impaction of rumen with indigestible

garbage in cattle and sheep reared within

urban and suburban environment.Nig.Vet.

Fouad, K., Musa, B. and Haggo B. (1980). Foreign body

ruminal indigestion among goats in sudan. Egyptian Vet.

Med. 1:34-40.

Hailat, N. (2009). Pathology of the rumen in goats caused

by plastic foreign bodies with reference to its prevalence

in Jordan. Small Rumi. Res. 30: 77-83.

Mohammad, H. A. (2004). Survey of Foreign Body in

Caprine Rumen in Khartoum State. M.V.Sc.Thesis.