RUMINAL DIGESTION

In the ruminal environment or ecosystem, energy and protein are generated.

More than 60% of the energy that the animal uses for maintenance and production (growth, lactation, gestation, wool, etc.) comes from volatile fatty acids (VFA), and between 60 and 80% of the protein necessary for growth and production comes from the microbial population of the reticulum-rumen.

Therefore, the degradation and absorption of different feed components at the rumen level will determine future animal production (milk, meat, or wool).

Thus, the rumen represents a key segment of the digestive tract when it comes to ensuring optimal productive performance as well as to withstand extreme conditions.

Reticulum-rumen

Hence, if feed digestion within the rumen is enhanced, animal production will substantially improve and with it, the productivity of livestock systems as a whole.