Rumen development and function
- 1. RUMEN DEVELOPMENT AND FUNCTION. THE ENGINE OF DAIRY COW
- 3. It is important to distinguish between rumen development which is very important in dairy farming and rumen function. The ability to wean a calf is dependent on it having a developed rumen that functions well.
- 4. The difference between a poorly developed rumen and one that is well developed comes down to: • Size, and • Number of papillae on the rumen wall
- 5. The more the papillae on the wall of the rumen thebetter the rumen functions.
- 6. Papillae are the small projections that grow on the wall of the rumen. They absorb nutrients. Two key things to remember about papillae are:- • The more papilae there are, the greater the surface area available to absorb nutrients.
- 7. • The presence of certain chemicals in the rumen facilitates the development of papillae. The two principal chemicals that contribute to the papillae developed are:- • Propionate, and • Butyrate
- 8. The above mentioned are both volatile fatty acids (VFAS) and are the major breakdown products of grain based concentrates. The early introduction of grain based concentrates stimulates the growth and developed of papillae.
- 9. In addition extra energy from the concentrates breakdown becomes available to the calf.
- 10. Poorly developed rumen has not very many papilae.
- 11. FIBRE FOR THE CALF A calf needs good quality fibre in order to develop her rumen. The role of roughages or fibre is:- •To promote the growth of the muscular layer of the rumen.
- 12. • To maintain the health of the rumen lining. •To check the over growth of papillae as a result of the high levels of the volatile fatty acids contained in grains thank to proprionates and butyrate.
- 13. To maintain papillae in aptimal condition.A source of good quality fibre should be offered to calves from day 3 of life.
- 14. CHANGING FROM LIQIUID TO SOLID SEED As a calf makes the transition from absorbing nutrients from milk to dry feed, its digestive system adapt and changes.
- 15. At birth, the digestive system of a calf is geared upto process milk so the abomasum is large in comparison to other parts namely rumen, omasum and reticulum. The rumen, which is designed to handle roughages grows as the animal eats more and more solid feed.
- 16. Strategic dairy farming demands that a farmer encourages the growth of a well developed and functioning rumen as quickly as possible
- 17. To promote steady growth and maintain health, calf rations need to be formulated so they contain:-
- 18. • Energy for growth and functions like breathing, walking, grazing etc. ( Grain based products provide propionate and butyrate) the breakdown chemicals that encourage growth of rumen papillae.
- 19. • For all basic metabolic processes and growth of calf rations between 16-18% crude protein are recommended. • Vitamins for metabolic processes, bone formation and disease resistance.
- 20. •Minerals for carbohydrate metabolism, cartilage and muscle • Vitamin prexies – prior to the development of the rumen, calves are not able to manufacture any of the B group vitamins and so addition of these are of benefit.
- 21. NB: MolaPlus, Livestock Microbes is very ideal in supplying all the B vitamins required by calves at this stage. Fibres should be induced in a calf's ration as it promotes the growth of the muscular layer of the rumen and helps maintain the health of the calve.
- 22. NOTE THAT:- • Poor quality fibres creates a “fill” effect. • Poor quality fibre decrease appetite • Poor quality fibre limits concentrate intake due to delay in passage of the rumen.