Recent advances in the understanding of subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) in goats, with focus on the link to feeding behaviour

Several mechanisms are involved in the multifactorial aetiology of SARA. The first is feeding behaviour. It has been shown that pH evolution is highly related to intake rate and level of intake. Further, chewing and sorting behaviours are modified when animals are given a high concentrate diet. The second mechanism concerns microbial rumen digestion: goats show different susceptibilities to a sudden increase in the percentage of concentrate in the diet. This can be due to differences in initial rumen parameters or to differences in absorption of volatile fatty acids and ammonia across the ruminal epithelium. A third mechanism concerns the metabolism of the animal, and especially the electrolytic balance. Within and between days modelling approaches are helpful to better understand the aetiology and consequences of acidosis in dairy goats. Consideration of these different mechanisms has improved the knowledge about acidosis, and it is expected that the application of automated monitoring technologies together with omics methods will further enhance the understanding of SARA.