A difference in abomasal pH between Canadian wapiti affected with chronic illthrift and unaffected deer

Abstract

The pH of abomasal fluid from five purebred Canadian wapiti which were diagnosed with chronic illthrift (“fading”) was found to be elevated compared to ten clinically normal red and hybrid (wapiti × red) deer. The average abomasal pH of the affected elk was 6.3, compared to 2.5 for the unaffected red and hybrid deer.