Rumen health
and animal
performance:
What you need
to know.

For dairy operations, animal health and production are the number-one concerns. The primary driver of energy and performance is a healthy rumen. The healthier the rumen, the healthier and more productive the animal.

Importance of
the rumen.

At the heart of an animal’s overall health and performance is the rumen, the second and most dynamic of the four compartments of the stomach in the dairy cow.

Quick Facts
Quick Facts
The rumen has a
forty-gallon volume, hosting
billions of microbes
Cattle get most of their energy from VFAs produced in the rumen
A stable, healthy rumen
drives health and performance
Video
Video
Importance of the Rumen
Digestive System Overview

The healthy rumen
and production
of VFAs.

The rumen’s microbes begin the fermentation process and produce volatile fatty acids, which are absorbed and converted into energy substrates — the animal’s primary energy sources of growth and lactation.

Quick Facts
Quick Facts
In a healthy rumen, production of VFAs does not outplace absorption through the rumen wall
Rumen health is partially
measured by its pH level
A healthy rumen stays stable in a
pH range of 5.6 to 7.0
Video
Video
How VFAs Are Used for Energy
Types and Functions of VFAs

What causes
an imbalanced rumen.

The energy-dense, high-starch
grains in a traditional dairy ration
increase the amount and types of
VFAs produced. This can produce
too much acid too fast, causing
an imbalance in the rumen and
drop in pH level.

Quick Facts
Quick Facts
High-starch diets produce VFAs faster than they can be absorbed, leading to a drop in pH level
Video
Video
Rumen Health and VFAs
Rumen Health and pH

Acidosis and cyclical feeding.

Subacute acidosis happens at a pH of below 5.6, which causes the dairy animal to feel unwell and reduce its feed intake. Once the pH sustains a level of 5.4, the animal is in full acidosis and stops eating altogether.

Quick Facts
Quick Facts
Subacute and acute acidosis takes a toll on rumen health and energy intake, reducing animal performance
As pH drops, the animal eats less and less often
After several hours to a full day, the animal recovers and eats again, in a cyclical pattern
Video
Video
Acidosis and Feed Intake
External signs of animal health - secondary

OneTrak benefits.

OneTrak replaces a portion of the grains in a typical diet with a high-energy, high-fiber source, promoting a balanced rumen, consistent eating patterns and greater gain.

Quick Facts
Quick Facts
Part of the starch in the diet is replaced with high-energy, digestible fiber
VFAs are produced at a rate
that can be easily absorbed,
keeping pH stable
Animals eat more over a 24-
hour period, producing more
energy overall
Video
Video
Origin of OneTrak
OneTrak Benefits
Performance Benefits
Get more educational
resources here >