DIGESTIVE OF RUMINANTS

The rumen. The rumen (on the left side of the animal) is the largest of four compartments and is divided into
several sacs. It can hold 25 gallons or more of material, depending on the size of the cow. The rumen absorbs
most of the volatile fatty acids produced from fermentation of feedstuffs by rumen microbes.
The reticulum. The reticulum is a pouch-like structure in the forward area of the body cavity. The tissues are
arranged in a network resembling a honeycomb. A small fold of tissue lies between the reticulum and the
rumen, but the two are not actually separate compartments. Collectively they are called the rumino-reticulum.
Heavy or dense feed and metal objects eaten by the cow drop into this compartment. The reticulum lies close to
the heart.
The omasum. This globe-shaped structure (also called the "manyplies") contains leaves of tissue (like pages in
a book). The omasum absorbs water and other substances from digestive contents. Feed material (ingesta)
between the leaves will be drier than that found in the other compartments.
The abomasum. This is the only compartment (also called the true stomach) with a glandular lining.
Hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes, needed for the breakdown of feeds, are secreted into the abomasum.
The abomasum is comparable to the stomach of the non-ruminant.
The small intestine. The small intestine measures about 20 times the length of the animal. It is composed of
three sections: the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. The small intestine receives the secretions of the pancreas
and the gallbladder, which aid digestion. Most of the digestive process is completed here, and many nutrients
are absorbed through the villi (small finger-like projections) into the blood and lymphatic systems.
Cecum. The cecum is the large area located at the junction of the small and large intestine, where some
previously undigested fiber may be broken down. The exact significance of the cecum has not been established.

Large intestine. This is the last segment of the tract through which undigested feedstuffs pass. Some bacterial
digestion of undigested feed occurs, but absorption of water is the primary digestive activity occurring in the
large intestine.
1. PROCESS OF DIGESTION IN RUMINANTS
When ruminant eats, it does not chew the grass but swallows it immediately and stores it until its appetite is
satisfied. Then the food is returned to the mouth and the cow chews the cud. When the food is first swallowed,
it passes down and the oesophagus into the first chamber called the rumen. In the rumen, bacteria and protozoa
secrete the enzyme cellulase to hydrolyse the cellulose into glucose.
The food passes into the second chamber called the reticulum. The bacteria and protozoa in the reticulum
continue to hydrolyse the cellulose. When the ruminant is ready to chew the cud, the food is returned to the
mouth to be chewed again. Movement of the food from the reticulum is by antiperistalsis of the oesophagus.
After the food has been chewed, it is again swallowed but this time, it passes into the third chamber called
omasum. The inner surface of the omasum has folds to act as sieves. Glucose the product of cellulose digestion,
is absorbed and as the food passes into the last chamber, abomasum, it is strained. This is to prevent any big
particles from entering the abomasum and damaging it.
The abomasum is the true stomach and is the only chamber which secretes gastric juice for digestion of other
food substances.
2. BASIC NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS OF RUMINANTS
Water Requirements
Comprising 50-80% of a cow's body, depending on age, and essential for all cellular functions as well as milk
production, the transport of nutrients and excretion of waste products, water is the single most important dairy
nutrient. It is also vital to the regulation of body temperature.
Cows require at least 60 litres of water/head/day and may need 100 litres or more depending upon yield. Cows
also have a good sense of smell and taste it is important to ensure water supplies are of sufficient quality;
poorly-sited wells or bore holes can become contaminated by slurry stores, septic tank outflows, carcase burial
pits and even landfills. Salmonella and other coliform bacteria can survive for long periods in leach into
otherwise clean water supplies from some distance.
Water Quality Testing
All non-mains water should be tested annually for pH, total dissolved solids, total coliform bacteria, faecal
coliform bacteria, total plate count and key minerals using clean, sterile sample containers from a testing
laboratory. Samples for bacteriological testing must be refrigerated, insulated, and delivered to the laboratory
within six hours. Other samples can be delivered or mailed using a standard overnight service.
Energy Requirements
50-80% of the energy cows require to power all their bodily functions comes from Volatile Fatty Acids (VFAs)
produced by the fermentation of feed carbohydrates in the rumen, with the remainder derived from
carbohydrates, fats and proteins that escape rumen degradation.
Ruminant energy requirements and feed energy supplies are generally expressed in terms of Metabolisable
Energy (ME) - the energy available to the cow after accounting for losses in digestion, gases and urine.

Fermentable Metabolisable Energy (FME) is the proportion of the ME potentially available in the rumen.
Bacteria cannot use either fermentation acids or fats/oils as an energy source, so the right balance of dietary
sugar, starch and fibre is essential for efficient rumen function.
Imbalances of the main energy sources can cause the following problems:

Sugar and starch: Too high risk of acidosis; fat cows. Too low risk of low milk protein; thin cows.

Fibre: Too high intakes drop. Too low risk of acidosis; displaced abomasums.

Fat: Too high poor fibre digestion and low intakes. Too low risk of low milk yield and fat.

Protein Requirements
Essential to every aspect of body maintenance, reproduction and milk production, so called Metabolisable
Protein (MP) is supplied to the cow as a combination of microbial protein from the rumen and dietary protein
that passes through it undegraded.
Ruminant protein requirements and feed protein supplies are generally expressed in terms of Crude Protein (CP)
which includes non-protein nitrogen as well as true protein.
Rumen Degradable Protein (RDP) describes the protein supply available to the rumen microbes, while
Digestible Undegraded Protein (DUP) is the protein available from the feed which escapes rumen degradation.
Although not considered to be a reliable guide for fertility purposes, Milk Urea Nitrogen (MUN) concentrations
can provide useful indications of the efficiency with which protein is being utilised in the rumen.
Mineral & Vitamin Requirements
Minerals are inorganic compounds needed for a whole host of regulatory and structural functions in the cow.
They are provided in different quantities are supplied in a range of feed supplements
Macro Minerals
Required in relatively large amounts - grams/cow/day - and expressed as a percent of ration dry matter, include
calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium and sulphur. Sodium, potassium and sulphur salts are
ionic and affect the acid-base balance in cows, critical to the maintenance of many bodily functions.
When dry cows are fed rations high in potassium producing positively-charged ions, for instance, the
availability and absorption of magnesium can be reduced, leading to milk fever type symptoms. There is good
evidence that feeding anionic (negatively-charged) chlorine or sulphur salts using a Dietary Cation-Anion
Balance (DCAB) approach helps prevent milk fever in these circumstances. If dry cow rations contain
potassium at over 2% in the forage DM, however, it is often better to change the forage rather than adding
anionic salts, since their poor palatability can depress appetite.
Key Trace Elements
Are only required in relatively small amounts and measured in milligrams/day include cobalt, copper, iodine,
iron, manganese, selenium and zinc. They can be supplemented in either inorganic (eg, zinc oxide) or organic
(eg, zinc methionine) forms.

Inorganic minerals are most commonly used because they are less expensive and more concentrated than
organic minerals. The many interactions between minerals and the fact that some can be toxic at relatively low
levels makes providing them in excess of requirements as harmful as failing to correct deficiencies.

Vitamins
Organic compounds needed in small amounts for a variety of chemical reactions in the body. Fresh forages are
good sources of fat soluble vitamins but dried, stored and ensiled forages have little vitamin content remaining
so diets based upon them must generally be supplemented.
3. COMMON FEEDS FOR RUMINANTS
1. Roughages

high in fibre (cellulose and hemicellulose) and usually low to intermediate in energy

protein content varies widely, depending on the plant species and stage of maturity

examples are hay, grass, grain hulls, oilseed hulls

2. Grains

high in energy and relatively low in fibre

most have a moderate protein content

examples are corn, barley, oats

3. Oilseeds

high in protein, usually high in energy

variable fibre content

examples are soybeans, canola meal

4. Byproducts

variable nutrient content

may contain a high level of moisture

examples are distillers grains, sweet corn cannery waste, bakery waste, grain screenings, apple
pomace