title: Rumenolith formation in a Bapedi ram.
abstract: During a routine flock visit, a farmer observed that one of the eight tooth Bapedi rams had  been losing body condition despite being separated from the flock and fed supplementary  feed. The ram's body condition score was assessed as 2 out of 5 (one point less than the average  of the rest of the rams) and the teeth appeared normal with no excessive wear. The rumen was  assessed by auscultation, palpation and ballottement where a foreign body (approximately  20 cm × 5 cm - 10 cm) was clearly palpated and ballotted. A rumenotomy was performed  and a large mass of tightly compacted foreign matter and plant material was removed. The  mass consisted of synthetic fibre, plant material and calcium phosphate (50.5%). It appeared  to have formed as the result of the ingestion of a synthetic fibre which formed the nidus of  a concretion. This was probably the result of deficient nutrition, with the rams eating the  synthetic fibre in an attempt to increase feed intake. The ram recovered uneventfully after the  rumenotomy was performed and supplementary feeding.
authors: Department of Production Animal Studies, University of Pretoria, South Africa. rhoda.leask@up.ac.za
authors: Rhoda
authors: R
authors: Leask
authors: Gareth F
authors: GF
authors: Bath
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001630:Bezoars / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D012417:Rumen / Q000473:pathology*; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000473:pathology*