RUMINANT vs MONOGASTRIC DIGESTION
An animal that relies on microbial fermentation to digest fibre.
What is a ruminant?
The term for how easily a feed can be broken down and absorbed.
What is digestibility?
A ration that meets basic needs to maintain body weight and health.
What is a maintenance ration?
The largest stomach chamber in sheep where microbial fermentation occurs.
What is the rumen?
The plant component that increases as pasture ages, reducing feed digestibility.
What is lignin?
A ration that provides extra nutrients for growth, pregnancy or lactation.
What is a production ration?
The plant carbohydrate in cell walls that sheep cannot digest without microbes.
What is cellulose?
The grain structure often broken by crushing or rolling to improve digestibility.
What is the seed coat (testa)?
The measure used to describe the energy available from feed for sheep.
What is metabolisable energy (ME)?
These are the main energy source produced when microbes ferment fibre in the rumen.
What are volatile fatty acids (VFAs)?
The factor that affects whether sheep will willingly eat a feed.
What is palatibility?
The measure used to describe the protein content of a ration.
What is crude protein (CP)?
A single-stomached digestive system that relies mainly on chemical digestion and enzymes.
What is a monogastric digestive system?
A common additive used to improve palatability by making feed sweeter.
What is molasses?
The type of ration required by lactating ewes to support milk production.
What is a production ration?