With increased pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from all sources, agriculture must play a part by improving efficiency of the system and reducing emissions.

The ruminant digestive system is as complex as it is important to beef and dairy production. Understanding how it works and what to do when it’s compromised can contribute to better overall gut health in cattle. After all, a healthier gut helps improve performance, prevent leaky gut and mitigate stress — all of which lead to healthier cows and profits.

The most unique characteristic of a dairy cow is the rumen, the large fermentation vat that utilizes microbes to convert the feed she consumes into the nutrients she needs. She is able to take feedstuffs that other animals, including humans, cannot use and extract nutritive value from them to produce milk.