Exploring nutritional factors influencing rumen development: A literature review

Feedlot profitability continues to face pressure from a range of external factors beyond the producer's control.

- Zané Orffer, Nu3enta

However, animal performance within the feedlot remains the key area where operators can exert influence. These parameters include total weight gain (TWG), dressing percentage (DP), feed conversion ratio (FCR), average daily gain (ADG), feeding costs (FC), and mortalities.

The rumen

The three primary physiological functions of rumen papillae are to increase the surface area for nutrient absorption, facilitate increased microbial attachment to the rumen wall, and support metabolic activity by enabling metabolites to enter the capillary bed of the rumen epithelium. Additionally, they contribute to immunological protection. The possibility that rumen papillae morphology may be associated with animal performance such as feed efficiency and ADG is therefore warranted. Research suggests that manipulating rumen development could enhance animal performance.

Newborn ruminants are morphologically and functionally two different types of animals in terms of their gastrointestinal tract (Gupta et al., 2016; Ramkrishna, 1979). Ruminants are born with a rumen that is both physically and metabolically underdeveloped, resembling the stomach of a monogastric animal, where milk enters the abomasum through the oesophageal groove and is absorbed in the small intestine to meet and maintain the nutritional requirements for growth (Bhatt et al., 2009; Scharrer et al., 1983).