A rumen works as a warm, dark moist place for good bacteria, fungi and protozoa to live. There are billions of these individual micro-organisms in each rumen. Their job is to be helpful to the animal by digesting a major portion of the food it eats. They break down forage and grain into a form the rest of the animal's digestive system can continue to digest and use. But the micro-organisms are sensitive. Each type of micro-organism digests very specific foods. When new foods are suddenly introduced, it can upset the micro-organisms. Some cannot digest the new food and die off, while others will have more food than they can eat or break down. This causes digestive issues with the ruminant animal. Ruminants may go off feed, get the scours, or get bloat! These are not easy problems to fix, but they can be easily prevented.
Proper management of feed can prevent upsetting the micro-organisms in the rumen and keep your animals happy and healthy. The first feed management happens when these animals are very little. Since they are mammals, mother's milk is the first food they receive. As they grow, young ruminants will try eating grass and grain like their mothers. Eating a little solid food helps to build the micro-organisms in their rumen and prepares them for weaning when the milk is taken away and they must eat grass or grain. Most animal mothers will wean their offspring onto grass and forage without much problem. It is when we manage the weaning from milk to grain we can cause problems.
Since the weaning process and changing of feeds is very similar, here are some things to remember to properly manage a feed change.
Grazing Forage to Grains
- Going from grazing to concentrated grain base feed is the most dramatic change.
- Provide a small amount of concentrate feed (less than 10% of the total daily food intake) to let the animal's rumen begin to adjust to the concentrate feed.
- Many managers will use a device called a creep feeder which allows the young animals to eat the new feed when they want during the day.
- As the young animal's rumen adjust to the new concentrate feed, the amount of feed is increased every 3 to 5 days for 3 to 4 weeks.
- Once the animals have adjusted to the new concentrated feed, be sure their ration (amount of food they receive each day) still includes forages in the form of hay, silage or access to pasture.
- Introduce any new feeds to animals over a period of 3 to 4 weeks.
- Mix in a small amount of new feed (less than 10% of the total feed) to their current feed the first week.
- Continue increasing the amount of new feed slowly over the next 3 to 4 weeks.
- Increases in the new feed should be done every 3 to 5 days.
- Maintain some forage in their diet such as hay, silage or access to pasture.
Most feed additives and supplements are used to either treat some type of illness or to provide missing nutrients like vitamins or minerals. You should follow the directions on the packaging or the directions of your veterinarian depending on where you got the supplement or additive. If your animal has digestive issues when the supplement or additive is fed, contact your veterinarian immediately and get their advice on what to do about the problem.
One common supplement that can be administered over-the-counter is a probiotic. A probiotic is a supplement containing various micro-organisms that live in a rumen. By following the label directions, you can help to provide the right kind of micro-organisms in the rumen as you change feeds.
Remember you manage your animal's feed. Proper management is the key to preventing digestive issues. Make feed changes slowly over a period of 2 to 4 weeks. Observe your ruminants for digestive issues such as loss of appetite, scours or bloat. If you have any questions or concerns, contact your veterinarian and tell them what you have observed and tell them what you are doing. They are the experts in animal health.
Scott Stinnett
Extension Associate
Kit Carson County
Golden Plains Area
Colorado State University Extension
