Research Article

Can Fecal Ph Be Used As An Alternative Indicator To Urine Ph For Monitoring Metabolic Changes In Pregnant Heifers Fed Anionic Salts?

Volume: 14 Number: 2 December 24, 2025
TR EN

Can Fecal Ph Be Used As An Alternative Indicator To Urine Ph For Monitoring Metabolic Changes In Pregnant Heifers Fed Anionic Salts?

Abstract

This study examined the impact of anionic salt supplementation on urine pH, serum Brix values, selected serum parameters, and fecal characteristics in pregnant heifers. The research involved 8 heifers during the last 14 days prior to calving. The animals received either a control diet (without anionic salts) or an anionic diet (150 g/day ammonium chloride), which was formulated to induce a mild metabolic acidosis. Anionic salts were administered 7 days prior to the experimental period to facilitate the animals' adaptation to the anionic diet. Blood, urine, and fecal samples were collected approximately three days before parturition for biochemical and physical analysis. The results indicated that heifers fed an anionic diet had significantly lower urine pH compared to those on a normal diet, confirming the expected metabolic acidification. Additionally, serum chloride levels were significantly higher in the anionic diet group (p<0.05), while other biochemical parameters, including calcium and phosphorus, remained unchanged. The anionic diet also influenced fecal particle size distribution, leading to a significant reduction in large particles and an increase in medium-sized particles (p<0.05). These findings suggest that urinary pH is a more accurate indicator of metabolic changes in response to anionic diets, whereas fecal characteristics may serve as secondary markers. The fact that fecal pH was less affected by anionic feeding suggests that it may not be a reliable marker for systemic acid-base balance.

Keywords

Project Number

Proje ile desteklenmemiştir.

Ethical Statement

This study was granted approval by the Local Animal Ethics Committee of Atatürk University, Turkey (approval no: 2024/08-205).

Thanks

We thank the Atatürk University Cattle Farm for providing animals; Prof. Dr. Nurinnisa Öztürk and the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, for support with serum analyses; and Mr. Ali Kaya from the Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, for assistance with feed analyses. This study was partially presented at the 8th National & 4th International Herd Health and Management Congress (Poster Presentation, November 07–10, 2024, Antalya, Turkey).

References

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  8. Khorrami B, Kheirandish P, Zebeli Q, Castillo-Lopez E, 2022: Variations in fecal pH and fecal particle size due to changes in dietary starch: Their potential as an on-farm tool for assessing the risk of ruminal acidosis in dairy cattle. Res Vet Sci, 152, 678-686.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Animal Nutrition

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

December 24, 2025

Submission Date

April 17, 2025

Acceptance Date

September 8, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 14 Number: 2

APA
Yılmaz, E., Uysal, S., Uysal, A., & Balli, B. (2025). Can Fecal Ph Be Used As An Alternative Indicator To Urine Ph For Monitoring Metabolic Changes In Pregnant Heifers Fed Anionic Salts? Harran University Journal of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 14(2), 163-168. https://doi.org/10.31196/huvfd.1677729
AMA
1.Yılmaz E, Uysal S, Uysal A, Balli B. Can Fecal Ph Be Used As An Alternative Indicator To Urine Ph For Monitoring Metabolic Changes In Pregnant Heifers Fed Anionic Salts? Harran Univ Vet Fak Derg. 2025;14(2):163-168. doi:10.31196/huvfd.1677729
Chicago
Yılmaz, Emre, Soner Uysal, Ayşe Uysal, and Bülent Balli. 2025. “Can Fecal Ph Be Used As An Alternative Indicator To Urine Ph For Monitoring Metabolic Changes In Pregnant Heifers Fed Anionic Salts?”. Harran University Journal of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine 14 (2): 163-68. https://doi.org/10.31196/huvfd.1677729.
EndNote
Yılmaz E, Uysal S, Uysal A, Balli B (December 1, 2025) Can Fecal Ph Be Used As An Alternative Indicator To Urine Ph For Monitoring Metabolic Changes In Pregnant Heifers Fed Anionic Salts? Harran University Journal of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine 14 2 163–168.
IEEE
[1]E. Yılmaz, S. Uysal, A. Uysal, and B. Balli, “Can Fecal Ph Be Used As An Alternative Indicator To Urine Ph For Monitoring Metabolic Changes In Pregnant Heifers Fed Anionic Salts?”, Harran Univ Vet Fak Derg, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 163–168, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.31196/huvfd.1677729.
ISNAD
Yılmaz, Emre - Uysal, Soner - Uysal, Ayşe - Balli, Bülent. “Can Fecal Ph Be Used As An Alternative Indicator To Urine Ph For Monitoring Metabolic Changes In Pregnant Heifers Fed Anionic Salts?”. Harran University Journal of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine 14/2 (December 1, 2025): 163-168. https://doi.org/10.31196/huvfd.1677729.
JAMA
1.Yılmaz E, Uysal S, Uysal A, Balli B. Can Fecal Ph Be Used As An Alternative Indicator To Urine Ph For Monitoring Metabolic Changes In Pregnant Heifers Fed Anionic Salts? Harran Univ Vet Fak Derg. 2025;14:163–168.
MLA
Yılmaz, Emre, et al. “Can Fecal Ph Be Used As An Alternative Indicator To Urine Ph For Monitoring Metabolic Changes In Pregnant Heifers Fed Anionic Salts?”. Harran University Journal of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, vol. 14, no. 2, Dec. 2025, pp. 163-8, doi:10.31196/huvfd.1677729.
Vancouver
1.Emre Yılmaz, Soner Uysal, Ayşe Uysal, Bülent Balli. Can Fecal Ph Be Used As An Alternative Indicator To Urine Ph For Monitoring Metabolic Changes In Pregnant Heifers Fed Anionic Salts? Harran Univ Vet Fak Derg. 2025 Dec. 1;14(2):163-8. doi:10.31196/huvfd.1677729