Rumination
✔️ Most important functions of the rumen microbes:
(1) Digestion of fibrous feeds
(2) Synthesis of essential nutrients such as Β vitamins and essential amino acids
(3) Utilization of compounds such as nonprotein nitrogen (NPN)
📌 Under normal conditions, the pH of the contents of the rumen and reticulum is maintained in the range of 6–7. (It may be lower in the grain-fed cows.)
✔️ Stable pH range is maintained by:
📌 Continual removal of acidic product
📌 Addition of bicarbonate from the saliva
Saliva
📌Makes chewing and swallowing easier
📌Sodium (Na) and potassium (K) salts that act as a buffering agents
📌 #Produce_150 Liter or more of saliva daily
Feed larger than 1 mm cannot leave the rumen, So the rumen is probably the major regulator of feed intake and we have to care about feed particle size as more size leads to intake issue and less size lead to ruminal acidosis type problem.
Note: Over-mixing leads to less particle size, less Rumen retention, less Rumination, and less saliva production leading to acidosis and less milk production.
☑️FEEDING DAIRY COWS prepared by the Target 10 Project, Third edition 2002 Published by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Victorian State Government, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia ISBN 1 74106 240 3
