標(biāo)題: the ruminant animals [打印本頁(yè)] 作者: monica 時(shí)間: 2008-4-2 17:38 標(biāo)題: the ruminant animals
Ruminant animals can use a greater variety of food sources than non-ruminant animals. The microbes living within the reticulo-rumen allow ruminants to convert fibrous feed (forages, crop residues and industrial by-products) and non-protein nitrogen (ammonia, urea) into highly nutritious and palatable food for humans (milk, meat).
Fibrous feed is necessary for the health of the cow because it maintains rumination and saliva production which are necessary for the proper function of the rumen and to obtain the desired bacterial population within the rumen.
A cow can eat forages (low energy feed) and concentrates (usually high energy feed). However, large additions of concentrates to a ration should be gradual (over a period of 4 to 5 days) to allow the population of bacteria in the rumen to adapt to the new diet.
The feces of ruminants are rich in organic matter (undigested microbial debris) and inorganic matter (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium) that are excellent fertilizers.