Ossalosi sperimentale ovina da alimentazione esclusiva con Oxalis cernua

Experimental oxalosis in sheep fed exclusively with Oxalis cernua.
After a quick reference to literature on the object, the chemical composition of Oxalis cernua, gathered locally, has been reported: it has been shown to be similar to that grown in other regions, though poorer in dry matter. Six six months old lambs were fed exclusively with Oxalis for 43-44 days and a loss of weight and a praved appetite were observed. There was a reduction in glycemia, proteinemia and albuninemia but an increase in urea nitrogen and creatinine in the serum, symptoms the last ones either of an insufficient fed or of hypoactive kidney. The bilirubinemia was higher than normal, while the glutamate-pyruvate transaminase in serum was in the physiological range. By using a fistula in the rumen of rams we observed a temporary lowering of the pH in the rumen and a brief increase in temperature during every meal of Oxalis cernua: it was shown that a hypoactive rumen does not utilize the food efficiently.