Introduction to Ruminant Nutrition

Concentrate

Nutrient sense particles comprised of one or more feed ingredients

Free Quality/Safety

Aspects of feed that are likely to cause ill health

Free Choice/ Ad libitum

any material that is available to animals 24 hours a day

Guaranteed analysis

nutrient profile as provided by manufacturer

Forage

plant based material containing fiber

Pasture, hay, silage, haylage

Physiological state

a distinct phase of an animal’s life cycle

Feed conversion

ability to convert feed into growth or products

Rumen Fermentation

Degradation of feed to release stored nutrients

Nutritional Disorder

A disorder directly linked to an animal’s diet and feeding process that impedes normal function

Crude Protein

true protein(amino acid) or non=protein nitrogen sources

Fats and oils

lipids are significant energy carriers used in moderation in feeds

Crude fiber

Plant cell structural components of feeds include cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin

What is important to the ruminant as a source of soluble carbohydrates

Crude fiber

Vitamins

Water soluble (B,C) and fat soluble (A,D,E,K) support digestion and many auxiliary functions

Which vitamins are water soluble

B, C

Which vitamins are Fat soluble

A,D,E,K

Minerals

essential for metabolic and other physiological processes (Ca, P, Mg, K, Cl, Na, S)

Water

50-80% of cows body weight

needed for rumen function, VFA production and absorption respiration, and other functions

Feed additives

support feed consumption, feed conversion, prevent metabolic disorders and enchance nutrition status

Ruminants are adapted to use forage because of __ in their rumen

microbes

To maintain ruminant health and productivity, feed the __ microbes which in turn feed the ruminant

rumen

Ruminant nutritional needs change depending on __, __,__, and __

age, stage of production, health, and weather

Adequate quantities of __ can supply most if not all the basic energy and protein a ruminant needs

Green forage

Forage nutritional composition changes depending on?

Plant maturity, species, season,moisture and grazing system

What is necessary when forage quality is limited?

Supplementation

What can excess supplementation cause

reduce ability of rumen microbes to use forage and can affect rumen function

Roughage/forage/fodder

plant based material used in fresh or preserved state

Examples of roughage

Straw, silage, pasture, green chops

Concentrates-Grains

Nutrient dense feeds formulated from a combination of ingredients usually corn and soybean

Examples of Grain

Calf starter, dairy booster, heifer developer, dry cow ration

Food processing by products

Waste from industrial processes from both animal and lant sources used as feed ingredients

Examples of food processing by products

Fish meal, rendered animal offal, rice hulls, palm oil seed cake, blood meal, dried distillers’ grain

Buffers

regulate rumen ph when feeding large amounts of grain

Ionophores

catalyst that promote cellular function and improve feed use efficiency

Probiotics and prebiotics

Support GI functioning using microbes and complexed polysaccharides

Essential oils

Support metabolic functions and aid in binding feed pellets

Mould Inhibitors

Prevent mould developing in feeds and causing aflatoxin poisoning

Larvicides

placed in feeds to help control fly population in feces

Rumen

acts as fermentation vat

Complex microbial community

Absorb volatile fatty acid

Abomasum

True stomach

Glandular lining

acidic and enzyme digestion

Reticulum

Cuds formed start rumination

acts as sieve

retains large items

Omasum

Layered muscular organ

removes excess water

reduce particle size

In the first week of life which stomach part is the biggest

abomasum

As cow reaches maturity which part of the stomach is the biggest

Rumen

Rumen

thin walled non functional at birth and develops with age

Major site for bacterial fermentation to release volatile fatty acids, gases, and microbial protein

Reticulum

Thick walled, non functional at birth

Approx 1/3 size of rumen

Traps large particles

Omasum

thick walled structure bulb shaped

non functional at birth

Abomasum

true stomach

Very well developed at birth

HCL and enzyme digestion of feeds

Rumination

Act of chewing cud

involves regurgitation of feed from rumen back to mouth

a lot of saliva added

Salivation

up to 80 qts delivered to rumen

Acts as buffer to maintain ph of 6.5-6.8

Rumen Contractions

mixing of rumen contents between 1-2 minutes

increase microbe exposure to feed, expulsion of feed and keeps solids in solution

Belching

Approx 30-50 qt of gas (CO2.CH4)