Changes in rumen fermentation and transcriptomes of liver tissue in Holstein cows with and those without subacute ruminal acidosis during the periparturient period

We investigated changes in rumen fermentation, peripheral blood metabolites and hormones, and hepatic transcriptomic dynamics in Holstein cows with and those without subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) during the periparturient period. SARA was diagnosed when ruminal pH was < 5.6 for more than 3 h per day (Gozho et al., 2005) during the 2 weeks following parturition. Based on these criteria, cows were assigned to the SARA (n = 8) or Control (n = 8) group.