rumen, microbes of the rumen, bacteria of the rumen, process in ruminant animals, gut of ruminant animals, bacterial concentrations in ruminant animals, bacterial fluctuations in ruminant animals

1. Ruminant Animals b.stev

3. The interaction between the different species of microbes aid each in their metabolic processes WASTES that are produced from one species is the nutrient to the metabolism of another A complex FOOD web oseopgeus gases today’s hay grain & yesterday’s hay THE RUMEN (Bowen, 2006)

5. THE RUMEN is acidic : ‘ BICARBONATE ’ - is produced in saliva helps to maintain equilibrium A COW produces 100 – 150 L per day chewed feed - periodically returned from the rumen mouth where it is chewed again

6. AN EXAMPLE: COWS fed with grains have considerably lower concentrations cellulolytic species (Wikipedia, 2008)

7. THE RUMEN pH is most favourable at : 6 – 7 severe pH fluctuations alter: microbe population INTRODUCTION : new feed must be done: – little and often ALLOW normal / gorge FEEDING DEPLETE A MICROBE TO EXTINCTION & SERIOUS HEALTH EFFECTS CAN OCCUR CARE is required : feeding the animal

8. Bibliography Wikipedia. (2008). Rumen – wikipedia, the free enclyclopedia . Retrieved September 28, 2008, from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Rumen - 35k - Bowen. R. (2006). Digestive physiology of herbivores . Retrieved September 28, 2008, from http://arbl.cvmbs.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/digestion /herbivores/index.html