rumen development

1. By- Dr. Suthar
Functional Development Of
Rumen

2. Rumen Development
 A mature microbial ecosystem is necessary to ensure the
full capacity to digest solid feed.
 When a young ruminant is born, its rumen is considered a
sterile environment that contains no bacteria or other
microbial life.
 The young ruminant is naturally exposed to different
microbes through the dam’s birth canal and vagina, saliva,
skin and feces.
 Anaerobic bacteria appear a few hours after birth
 Cellulolytic bacteria and methanogenic archaea
appear at 2-4 days of age
 Anaerobic fungi colonize the rumen during the second
week
 Ciliate protozoa begin to be established only during
the third week.

4.  The separation may occur early; the newborn
ruminant naturally undergoes stress, suppressing
immunity and delaying rumen development.
The transition from milk to solids can also occur when
microbial colonization is incomplete and result in
frequent digestive disorders in the young animal.
 Diversity of microbial communities in the rumen
depends largely on diet composition.
The development of the rumen (weight, wall thickness
and papillae number, integrity and length) is highly
dependent on the level of complexity of
its microbiology.
 Grain feeding increases the concentration of butyric
acid in the rumen, which stimulates papillae growth.

5.  A mature microbial ecosystem is necessary to
ensure the full capacity to digest solid feed
 Optimal animal growth and performance relies
on:
 Rapid establishment of microbial populations,
 Development of an abundant and functional
microbiota,
 Stimulation of intake and digestive activity,
 Maximizing the absorptive capacity of the rumen
wall.

6. Immature rumen wall with poorly
developed papillae
Mature rumen wall with well-developed
papillae

7.  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
 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
 The more the papillae on the wall of the rumen
thebetter the rumen functions.

9.  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.
 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
 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.

10. FIBRE FOR THE CALF
 In addition extra energy from the concentrates
breakdown becomes available to 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.
 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.
 To maintain papillae in aptimal condition.A source
of good quality fibre should be offered to calves
from day 3 of life.

11. CHANGING FROM LIQIUID TO
SOLID FEED
 As a calf makes the transition from absorbing
nutrients from milk to dry feed, its digestive
system adapt and changes.
 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.
 Strategic dairy farming demands that a farmer
encourages the growth of a well developed and
functioning rumen as quickly as possible

12.  To promote steady growth and maintain health, calf
rations need to be formulated so they contain:-
 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.
 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.
 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.

13.  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.
 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.