RUMINANT DIGESTIVE SYSTEM, NUTRITION & FEEDING MANAGEMENT

Ruminants

Animals with multi-chambered stomachs that undergo microbial, acidic, and enzymatic digestion for nutrient absorption.

Goats

Can tolerate bitter taste. _ tend to select a variety of feeds.

Rumen

Fermentation vat.

Reticulum

Honeycomb.

Omasum

Manyplies.

Abomasum

True stomach.

Water, Carbohydrate, Protein, Fat, Minerals, Vitamins.

Nutrients Required by Ruminants

As-fed basis (AFB)

Amount contained in the feed as it would be fed to the animals.

Dry matter basis (DMB)

Amount contained in only the dry matter fraction.

Water

An essential nutrient. Intake is largely influenced by the diet’s moisture content (MC). Clean and fresh drinking water must be available at all times.

Carbohydrates

Derivable energy depends on rumen microbial activity and amount of lignified cellulose. High lignin means less digestible and poor source of energy. Low protein intake reduces microbial capacity to degrade insoluble carbohydrates.

Cellulose Digestion

Microbial cellulase, microbial fermentation.

Protein

Provides amino acids for building and repair of animal tissues — muscles, organs, hooves, skin, hair, etc.

Microbial Protein Synthesis

Process by which microbes synthesize proteins within the rumen.

Fats

Present in plant and animal tissues. Provide 2.25 times more energy compared to protein. Acts as solvents for fat soluble vitamins (FSV). Lacking in the ration results to deficiency. Susceptible to partial oxidation or rancidity.

Macrominerals

Calcium (Ca), Phosphorus (P), Sodium (Na), Chloride (Cl), Magnesium (Mg), Potassium (K), Sulfur (S).

Microminerals

Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), Cobalt (Co), Manganese (Mn), Iodine (I), Zinc (Zn), Selenium (Se), Molybdenum (Mo).

Calcium (Ca)

High in leafy plant materials but low in grains. Sources: bone meal, calcium carbonate, ground oyster shell, and deflourinated rock phosphates. Absorbed in the SI through vit D.
Deficiency: Young—Rickets; Adults—Osteomalacia; milk fever.

Phosphorus (P)

Important in bone and teeth formation and energy utilization. Sources: commercial mono-, di- and tri-calcium phosphates.
Deficiency: Pica, reduced fertility, abnormal bone and teeth development.

Magnesium (Mg)

For normal functioning of the nervous system and required for many enzymatic reactions. Legume and legume-grass mixed pastures are good sources of magnesium.
Deficiency: Slow growth, hyper-irritability, convulsion.

Sodium (Na)

For regulation of body fluid volume, acid-base balance, and osmotic pressure.
Deficiency: Slow growth, reproductive failure, pica, unthrifty appearance, rough hair coat, low milk yield.

Chloride (Cl)

Major anion of body fluids. Closely associated with Na in regulating the pH of body fluids.
Deficiency: Unthrifty appearance, decreased appetite and loss of body weight.

Potassium (K)

For maintenance of cell fluid volume, pH, and osmotic pressure for muscle contraction. Adequate amounts are present in most feeds

Sulfur (S)

Important component of keratin in wool and mohair.
Deficiency: Anorexia, reduced weight gain, decreased milk production, decreased wool growth, excessive tearing, excessive salivation, and eventually death.

Iron (Fe)

Constituent of hemoglobin. For transporting CO₂ from tissue to lungs.
Deficiency: Poor growth, anemia, lethargy, increased heart and respiratory rates, weakened immunity to diseases.

Copper (Cu)

For the synthesis of enzymes and in pigmentation.
Deficiency: Anemia, uncoordinated movement of hind legs, staggering gait, swaying of hindquarters.

Cobalt (Co)

Needed in preventing the occurrence of enzootic marasmus or “wasting disease.” Low levels prevent vit B12 synthesis.
Deficiency: Poor appetite, weight loss, muscular wasting, pica, severe anemia.

Manganese (Mn)

For bone formation, reproduction, and enzyme function.
Deficiency: Foreleg deformity, delayed onset of estrus, poor conception rate.

Iodine (I)

Component of thyroid hormone.
Deficiency: Enlargement of the thyroid gland

Selenium (Se)

Functions with vit E as an antioxidant.
Deficiency: Poor growth rates, white muscle disease, retained placenta.

Zinc (Zn)

Required by the immune system and for normal skin growth.
Deficiency: Dermatitis, poor hair growth.

Vitamins

Functions: energy transformation, regulation of metabolic processes, synthesis of several compounds in the animal tissue.

Fat Soluble Vitamins (FSV)

Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K.

Water Soluble Vitamins (WSV)

Vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, Niacin, Panthothenic acid, Vitamin H, Folic acid, Niacin, Vitamin C, Inositol, Choline.

Vitamin A 

Also known as retinol. Can be synthesized from carotene. Necessary for normal epithelial development and vision.
Deficiency: Tearing of the eyes, coarse hair coat, infertility in breeding animals.

Vitamin D

Also known as calciferol or “sunshine vitamin.” Necessary for Ca absorption in the intestine.
Deficiency: Rickets, swelling of the leg joints and arching of the back.

Vitamin E

Also known as tocopherol. Functions as antioxidant in conjunction with Se.
Deficiency: White muscle disease.

12% CP

Grazing goats spend more energy in search and harvest of feed. Growing goats require __ CP.

Ca

Access to legumes prevents __ deficiency.

Pastures

__ are normally low in Na and Cl.

WSV and vit K

can be synthesized by rumen microbes while the other FSV must be provided from external sources (diet and supplements).

75-80%

Approx. _ feed fed to the ruminants.

Roughage

High in fiber (>50%), low in starch (<4%), moderately low in protein (<20%). Cheapest source of nutrients. Fibrous herbage plants or agro-industrial by-products. High fiber but low energy value.

Functions: source of nutrients, help maintain normal rumen function, has role in weaning the young ruminant, maintaining milk fat level.

Grazing, Soilage

Consumed by ruminants as fresh feed

Baled, Ensiled

processed feed

Forage Corn 80 kg, Molasses 20 kg.

Silage Ingredients

Concentrates

Feeds low in fiber and high in energy content. Examples: Grains (corn), Oil meals, Rice bran, Corn bran, Copra meal, Cane molasses.

• 35

• 14

• 34

• 5

• 10

• 1

• 1

Concentrate Mix Ingredients

Rice Bran _, Corn , Copra Meal , SBOM , Molasses , Salt, Dicalphos , Total 100

Advantages of Concentrate Mixing

Bigger kids with higher survival rates, more milk from does, early and regular post-kidding estrus, high pregnancy rate.

Dry Matter (DM) Requirement

animal bodyweight × 3% of bodyweight

60:40

Portion of DM to be taken from grass and legume forages at _ ratio.

Conversion to Fresh Feed

DM required ÷ DM content.

DM from Concentrate

22% of DM requirement

45%

To increase utilization of low-quality roughages. Fertilizer grade urea is _ N (N-P-K = 45-0-0). Protein is 16% N.

2.81

1 unit of urea is __ units of CP.

Urea Molasses Mineral Block (UMMB)

Rice Bran 38, Molasses 38, Urea 10, Cement 10, Dicalphos 3, Salt 1, Total 100.

Urea-Treated Rice Straw (UTRS)

Ingredients: Rice Straw 10 kg, Urea Sol’n (Water 10 L + Urea 0.6 kg).

Pasture

Any land covered with grass and other low plants suitable for grazing animals.

Forage

The actual feed (e.g. grass) that is being provided and eaten by the ruminants.

Choice of land, choice of forage species, propagation, grazing management.

Pasture Establishment Factors

Continuous Grazing, Rotational Grazing, Soiling or “cut and carry.”

Pasture Utilization Systems

Stocking Rate

Relationship between the number of animals and the size of forage resource on which they are placed. Expressed as animal units (AU) per hectare. 

Cow - 1 AU; Bull - 1.25 AU; Heifer/Steer - 0.75 AU; Yearlings - 0.5 AU; Calves - 0.25 AU.

Stocking Density

Number of animals on a part of the pasture for a certain portion of time.

Dry Matter Intake (DMI)

Amount of feed a ruminant consumes per day on a moisture-free basis.

Grasses

• Pennisetum purpureum (Napier grass)

• Panicum maximum (Guinea grass)

• Brachiaria mutica (Para grass)

• Digitaria decumbens (Pangola grass)

• Desmodium cinerea (African star grass)

• Dicanthium aristatum (Alabang X).

Legumes

• Centrosema pubescens (Centro)

• Leucaena leucocephala (Ipil-ipil)

• Stylosanthes humilis (Townsville stylo)

• Stylosanthes guyanensis (Schofield stylo)

• Phaseolus atropurpureus (Siratro).

Recommended Grasses

• Napier (Pennisetum purpureum)

• Guinea grass (Panicum maximum)

• Para grass (Brachiaria mutica)

• Pangola grass (Digitaria eriantha)

• African star grass (Cynodon plectostachyus).

Recommended Legumes

• Centro (Centrosema pubescens)

• Ipil-ipil (Leucaena leucocephala)

• Townsville Stylo (Stylosanthes humilis)

• Schofield Stylo (Stylosanthes guianensis)

• Siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum).

Hay

Dried forage preserved for feeding ruminants.

Silage

Fermented, high-moisture stored fodder that can be fed to ruminants.

Haysilage

A preserved forage product intermediate between hay and silage.