The study materials were consisted cattle brought to the Policlinics of the Veterinary Faculty of the University of Fırat, which were suffering from forestomach diseases (25 acut and 21 chronic traumatic reticuloperitonitis, 11 vagus indigestion, 14 simple indigestion and 10 ruminal acidosis) and 20 cattle with primer ketosis.

Systematic clinical and ruminal fluid examination, hematological, biochemical examinations were carried out in all animals, liver biopsy and bromsulphothalein (BSP) clearance test were performed in some of the cattle.

The value for ruminal chlorid (Cl) was over 30 mEq/L in vagus indigestion group and found a significant increasing (p< 0.01) when compared the other groups.

The value for aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamil transferase (GGT) activities were significantly higher in ruminal acidosis group than the other groups (p<0.01). Sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) activity obtained in the ruminal acidosis and primer ketosis groups was significantly higher than the other groups (p<0.01). Glucose levels showed a significant increase in the ruminal acidosis group, but a significant decrease in the primer ketosis group (p<0.01). A significant increase was observed in the trigyliceride concentrations in all groups.

In some animals BSP retention range of each group extended in the ruminal acidosis and primer ketosis groups significantly, but no differences were seen in the other groups.

Liver biopsy was applied to some animals in each group. Megalositozis, vacuolisation and from necrobiotic changes to hepatocellular necrosis was observed in the vagal indigestion, ruminal acidosis and primer ketosis groups. No significant differences were found in the other groups.

After the treatment, 41 of 101 cattle were reexamined in terms of clinical, ruminal fluid, hematological and biochemical examination. Although eleven cattle were submitted due to the failure in response to the treatment, the remaining animals healed.

The results of this study indicated that vagus indigestion, ruminal acidosis and primer ketosis might have had some effects on liver functions. AST and SDH activities, glucose, total protein and albumin concentrations, BSP clearence test and liver biopsy were found to be useful diagnostic procedures in liver diseases.