Ruminants, covering cattle, sheep, bison, and goats, have an interesting way of turning coarse vegetation into meat, milk, and nutrition for maintenance. Essentially, rumen microbes are what feed the ruminant.

Ruminants have three fore-stomachs (reticulum, rumen, omasum) in addition to their true stomach (abomasum). They rely on anaerobic (no oxygen) fermentation that primarily occurs in the rumen. They also regurgitate and rechew the feed they recently ate. This is what makes ruminants the perfect animal to thrive on a plant-only diet.

Ruminant nutrition is the study and knowledge of how to feed the microbes to feed the cow–or the ruminant. All nutrients are important. The greatest intake is from macro-nutrients–water, energy, protein–followed by macro-minerals (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sulphur) to micro- or trace minerals (copper, selenium, iron, manganese, zinc, cobalt, iodine). Vitamins A, D, and E are also important.

Monitoring feed value is important when making sure animals are getting what they need. Understanding the average value of common feeds like hay, silage, grain and even straw helps to judge how a feed ration should be balanced. In addition, understanding the nutritional requirements of various classes and types of animals is much more important to formulate feed rations accordingly. Nothing is worse than creating a ration meant for a young growing beef steer that far exceeds what a dry pregnant cow needs!

Dairy cows require a higher plane of nutrition than beef cows, generally. Lactating cows and young growing calves need better nutrition than dry pregnant cows or older feeder cattle that are nearly ready for slaughter. This often means higher (or lower) energy and protein requirements, and differences in balancing macro-minerals like calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, and even sulphur. Vitamins A, D, and E also change per the nutritional requirements of the animal.

Body condition scoring (BCS) also plays a big role in determining the nutritional needs of an animal. BCS applies a number to determine the level of fat cover on an animal, usually from 1 to 9 (American scoring), or 1 to 5 (Canadian scoring, or dairy), where 1 is most emaciated. Using BCS also helps determine whether a certain feed or a ration is promoting weight gain and meeting maintenance requirements, or the exact opposite.

Thin or thinner animals are evidence that either feed quality is subpar to their needs, or they are putting out more than their body can keep up with. In wintertime, thin cows suffer more because their body is putting more effort into keeping warm than building up fat reserves. For that reason, it’s extremely difficult to get thin cows to put on fat when temperatures are well below zero. Thinness also negatively impacts fertility, milk production (to an extent) and calving ability. Fatter animals fair much better in wintertime, but can also suffer reproductively reducing fertility, and milk production, and making it more difficult at calving. Bulls that are too thin or too fat also face negative repercussions in their fertility.

In just ruminant nutrition alone, there are many more details than what has already been mentioned here. To assist in providing sound nutritional information and recommendations, many questions need to be asked including the stage of production, breed, age, climate conditions, body condition score, size, and others on just the animals alone. The feed side is equally demanding of answers including what feed[s] are being fed, what is their nutritional value (feed testing is important), what mineral mixes are being supplied, and much more. While all that sounds complicated, it helps develop your context so that I can better assist you in providing finding the best, and most economical rations for your animals’ needs.

The first contact is always free. These demo calls—or visits—give me the opportunity to see where things are at and if you’re a good fit for what I am able to help you with. Only after this will a fee be charged. (For the time being, clients outside of Canada will receive my services for free.)

You can get a hold of me in the following ways:

Be sure to include your email, phone number, name, location, and details of what you wish me to assist you with.