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.
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.
