The importance of the rumen and intestine in the digestive balance of ruminants [Expert voice]
Digestive health in ruminants is a vast and interesting subject. In this article, you will find out more about rumen and intestinal balance in ruminants. Focus on this important topic and learn how the gastrointestinal tract of ruminants operates.
Today, digestive health in ruminants is defined as a stable state where the rumen and intestine co-exist in balance and where the animal’s well-being and performance are not limited by intestinal dysfunction.
This digestive balance is fragile and regularly put to the test during transitions. While proper ruminal function is often at the heart of problems, it is necessary to act on the entire gastrointestinal tract.
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Rumen and intestinal function
The balance of digestive flora is regularly put to the test, which can have repercussions on the rumen and intestinal tract. In the event of dysbiosis, the rumen wall allows nutrients to bypass it, which in turn affects the intestinal balance.
This intestinal dysfunction leads to impaired fermentation, resulting in an accumulation of volatile fatty acids, a drop in faecal pH and high endotoxin production.
These alter the integrity of the intestinal wall, with consequences for the animal’s general immunity.
Indeed, inflammatory processes originating in the gastrointestinal tract and of non-infectious origin impair performance, ingestion and feed efficiency, even though the animal is not necessarily in a state of acidosis.
Gastrointestinal balance is linked to farm transitions
There are many transitions in dairy farming, since they can be linked to changes in feed but also in environment (change of building, allotment, etc.). It is estimated that a dairy breeder makes an average of 3 dietary changes a year (Source: Agrinova study, 2020).
Using the CréaScan decision-making tool, the CCPA Group compared the difference between actual and expected milk production on several farms after a feed transition such as the opening of a maize silo. This analysis showed a difference in milk production compared with expectations of around 3 kg/d/daity cow, for several months following the transition.
In fact, during transitions when the animal is under greater strain (silo opening, start of lactation, etc.), the effects on rumen and intestinal fermentation are heightened, leading to a reduction in the animal’s performance.
Methods for analysing digestive function
There are easy-to-use methods for analysing digestive function.
- The dung sieve is a tool for analysing digestion via faeces. It allows to quickly and visually assess how well a herd’s digestive system is working. Simply take 1 kg of dung from the herd and weigh the quantity of particles > 5mm and>2mm. The higher the coarse particle content, the poorer the digestion of the ration.
- Measuring the pH of faeces is also a way of characterising digestion dynamics. The lower the faeces pH, the higher the volatile fatty acid content. They are therefore not properly digested in the intestine, indicating intestinal dysfunction.
Delta® Balance has a complete action on the digestive tract
Delta® Balance is an innovative nutritional solution for ruminants. Based on plants, green clay and yeast-derived products, it has a complete action on the digestive tract, regulating the pH of the rumen and helping to maintain the integrity of the intestinal wall.
This prevents digestive imbalances and limits the consequences of imbalances in feed intake and digestion. Dairy performance and the breeder’s income are therefore optimised.
Good digestive balance for more consistent performance
The rumen and the intestine are the 2 organs responsible for the digestive balance of ruminants. The rumen is the organ where most fermentation takes place and the intestine, known as the “2nd brain”, plays an important role in the immunity and well-being of ruminants. Their balance is therefore essential for optimising ruminant performance.