Intro to Ruminant Nutrition

What is the function of the Rumen?

It is the main holding vat and where energy that the ruminant needs is created

What are the four parts of the Rumen?

Rumen, Reticulum, Omasum, Abomasum

Which part of the Rumen functions similarly to a monogastric's single stomach?

The Abomasum

What is a healthy rumen pH?

> 5.7

What are the 3 main volatile fatty acids involved in rumen homeostasis?

Acetate, Propionate, and Butyrate

Function of the VFA, Acetate?

Buffer of blood pH

Function of the VFA, proprianate?

Goes to liver as proprionic acid to aid in gluconeogenisis

Function of the VFA, butyrate?

Helps develop papilla of rumen

Which VFA is directly used by the rumen wall?

Butyrate

Microbial fermentation occurs ___________ (before/after) to passage into the true stomach and intestines

BEFORE

Rumen microbes need the appropriate balance between what sources to be efficient converters of feedstuffs?

Carbon source (carbohydrates), nitrogen source, water, and minerals

The fiber mat contains what?

Today's hay

The fluid layer of the rumen contains what?

Today's grain and Yesterday's hay

Cows on a primarily roughage diet (grass-fed) usually have a rumen pH of what?

6-7

Cows on a primarily grain diet (concentrates) have a rumen pH of what?

5.5-6.5

Normal rumen pH usually ________ a few hours after eating

Drops

Main functions of the omasum

Functions as a sieve/filter & absorption of VFAs and water

Main functions of Abomasum

Secretory and digestion functions, ph = 3 (bs of HCl)

Main functions of small and large intestine

Absorption of amino acids, nutrients, and electrolytes. Secretion

Unique function of large intestine

Water absorption

Nutrient Requirements are dependent on:

Age, stage of production, sex, breed, environmental conditions, basal diet quality, amount of intake

What is the goal when determining how to feed?

Efficient AND cost effective

What's bunk space?

Space to accommodate for everybody to feed in one space

What is Dry Matter Intake?

How much forage the animal is consuming

What are some protein sources for feed?

Forage, silage, legumes, cottonseed, soybean meal, wheat middlings, etc

What are some forms of protein delivery?

Pellets/cubes, sweet feed/textured, whole product, liquid feed, blocks

Rumen bacteria are mainly ____________

Anaerobes

When looking at a sample of rumen fluid under a microscope — what should you see?

Motile protazoa & bacteria

If a 35 kg calf needs to be fed milk replacer - how much milk replacer will it require in a 24 hour period if it ingests 10% of its body weight?

3.5L

How to convert liters to quarts?

Multiple liters by 1.057

cattle range cubes

distiller's grain

whole corn

cotton seed or cotton seed meal

beet pulp pellets or flakes

soybeans or soybean meal

wheat middlings