DEVELOPMENT OF

RUMEN

By
R PRABAKARAN
INTRODUCTION
The digestive system of ruminants is just like monogastric at the time
of birth
At birth , rumen is only 25% of stomach and abomasum is 70 %
The transition to ruminant stomach takes place in step by step
manner
Ruminant stomach is fully functional at 8 to 12 weeks of age
Different factors affecting the development should be known to
modulate it according to our needs and make utmost profit
PHASES OF RUMEN DEVELOPMENT
Newborn animal that can take only milk is transformed into fully
functional ruminant that can digest grass, leaves and other solid feeds
in four phases , namely
1. Newborn phase
2. Pre-ruminant phase
3. Transitional phase
4. Ruminant phase
NEWBORN PHASE
Lasts for 24 hrs after birth
Rumen is small,no microbial population,only rudimentary papillae
present
Abomasum doesn’t secrete acid or pepsinogen
At this time,colostrum is only feed- passes undigested- passive
immunity
Anti trypsin in colostrum – prevents digestion in small intestine
Direct absorptive capacity of intestine – 24 to 48 hrs after birth
Milk feeding - disrupts direct absorption of IGs
PRE-RUMINANT DIGESTION
Day 1 to day 21
Initially only fed milk, in later part of this phase – solid feed given
Suckling of milk promotes saliva – has esterase – hydrolyses milk
lipids
Milk bypass rumen and reticulum by esophageal groove closure – into
abomasum – abomasal secretions causes further digestion of milk
Rennin – efficient utilization of milk protein
Lactase – to utilize lactose in milk
TRANSITIONAL PHASE
3 to 8 weeks
Large volume of milk taken and digested as above
Pepsin produced – can utilize non milk proteins
Large quantity of roughages also taken – development of salivary
gland , rumen and reticulum
Bulk of roughages – rumen musculature development
Rumen starts acquiring microbes
Microbial fermentation of roughage leads to VFAs production –
necessary for rumen papillae development
CONT…
Calf should be reduced its dependence on liquid or milk diet and solid
feeds(concentrate and hay /straw ) should be encouraged to enhance
the rumen development
The transition from pre ruminants to ruminants can be fastened to
even 6 weeks of age
At the end of this period , rumen is fully developed
Shift of intermediary metabolism from glucose to VFAs
Blood glucose levels become less insulin sensitive
RUMINANT DIGESTION
Transitional phase to life time
Rumino reticulum attains full motility and microbial fermentation
ability
Rumen accounts for 70 % of total stomach
Calf will usually have fully developed rumen by 12 weeks of age
Roughage will be the sole source of feed
FACTORS TO INITIATE
Bacteria
RUMEN DEVELOPMENT
Rumen development Absorptive ability of the
involves development of tissue
rumen epithelium and
musculature
Liquid in the rumen
It is critical for successful
weaning and good calf
growth rates
Muscular movement – outflow of
Five key factors are material from the rumen

Availability of feed stuff in the

rumen
1.BACTERIA
New born calf don’t have bacteria and are introduce when the calf
begins to eat calf starter concentrates or roughages
Starter ration have starch which is digested by the bacteria
Bacteria helps digestion and the end products are VFAs crucial for
rumen development
VFAs lower the rumen pH and establishes ideal growing environment
for bacteria
2.ABSORPTIVE ABILITY OF THE
TISSUE
The epithelium of rumen is responsible for absorption of VFAs
At birth , epithelium cant absorb VFAs
Subsequent production and absorption of VFAs by the microbial
fermentation of roughages and calf starters causes the epithelium to
develop into finger like projections called papillae,that increases the
surface area
3.LIQUID IN THE RUMEN
As milk by passes rumen there is no free water for optimal rumen
development , hence calf must have access to free water all the time
Liquid in the rumen along with absence of O2,ideal environment for
the bacterial growth
Offering water from 3 days of age helps
I. to increase the calf weight gain
II. promotes starter or roughage intake and
III. reduces scour
4.MUSCULAR MOVEMENT –
OUTFLOW OF MATERIAL FROM THE
RUMEN
Feed stuffs entering rumen must leave it, by the ruminal activity like
contractions to mix , ruminate and regurgitate.
At the time of birth only little muscular activity ,few contractions and
no regurgitation
Calves must be fed milk , hay and starter shortly after birth to ensure
normal rumen contraction as early as 3 weeks of age
5.AVAILABILITY OF FEED STUFF IN
THE RUMEN
• Dry feed intake is the key factor
• Calf starter can be introduced as early as 3 days of age
• It is fermented to propionic and butyric acid , leads to faster rumen
development – early weaning
• Roughage can be fed to increase the retention time of feed in the
rumen
CALF STARTER
It is the important factor in the development of rumen
It is important In ensuring smooth transition from milk feed to adult
diet,without reduction in growth
It is introduced as early as 3 days , by offering small handful of
concentrate after milk is fed
It is placed in front of calves in bucket to nose around it
By 2 weeks – 2 hand full
It should be 1 kg at the age of weaning
QUALITIES OF CALF STARTER
Coarse ration(2000 micro m) for young calves encourages chewing
and saliva production
Coarseness – benefits for muscle growth of rumen
Pellets can be fed after few weeks – it should not be too soft or hard
Dusty meals- respiratory diseases and also digestive disorders
Molasses ( 5%) added to reduce dustiness and it also improves
palatability
WATER AND FIBRE
Ad libidum of water must be made available from birth ( 3 to 4 days )
Average daily water intake
Birth to 4 weeks – 3.5 L
4 to 8 weeks – 5.7 L
Roughage should be introduced by day 3 and made available to all the
calves within 2 weeks of age
Initially fed 10 to 20 % of DM – chopped to 3 to 4 cm is ideal length
Fibre should not be over fed – leads to ‘ hay bellies’ , decreased
concentrate intake
Improper digestion leading to delay in rumen development
REFERENCES
• Functional development of the rumen and ruminant system,by
Prasanna pal,Dipak Dey,Bharti Sharma,Juyotimala Sahu and Satarupa
Gosh ,ARTICLE ID:AL201905 – agriallis
• www.teagasc.com (Agriculture and Food Development Authority )-
development of calf digestive system
THANK YOU