AGRICULTURAL NEWS - A ruminant such as a cow obtains nutrients from plant-based food by fermenting it through microbial action in a specialised stomach.
This consists of four parts: the rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum. Ruminant micro-organisms in the first three enable the animal to digest fibrous material that a single-stomach animal cannot digest.
This produces essential nutrients such as amino acids and B-vitamins. The presence of these nutrients is why beef is so good as human food.
Cattle require protein, energy, water, fat, minerals and vitamins. The amounts vary according to the environment, the cow’s age, the time of year, and production goals and stages.
