DS 825 Ruminant Nutrition Physiology DS 825 Ruminant Nutrition Physiology Glossary

Condition characterized by a low rumen pH (below 6). The normal rumen function are impeded usually because too much concentrates were fed.

Allometric equations take the general form Y = aM^b, where Y is some biological variable, M is a measure of body size, and b is some scaling exponent. See West et al. (2012) for more details.

The growth of body parts at different rates, resulting in a change of body proportions.

A disease due to a deficiency in red blood cells or in hemoglobin that carries oxygen in the blood.

Desire for food that can be quantify by measuring dry matter intake.

Reproductive procedure by which semen previously collected from sires, packaged in “straws” and frozen in liquid nitrogen is thawed and manually deposited in the uterus of a cow in estrus, in the hope of conception. Artificial insemination is a technology that allows for genetic improvement based on selection and use of superior sires.(see also Timed Artificial Insemination).

Single-cell organisms living either independently or in close association with other living organisms. Often referred to as microbes or microorganisms because of their microscopic size. Some bacteria are beneficial, but others cause infectious diseases.

A small stony concretion that may form in the stomachs of certain animals, especially ruminants. Bezoars are caused by a buildup of material in the gastrointestinal tract that the stomach can't digest.

A liver secretion that is necessary for proper digestion of fats.

A measure of protein quality. The percentage of protein in a feed which is not lost in the urine or the feces of the animal. Biological value is a reflection of the balance of amino acids available to the animal after digestion and absorption.

The part of leaf and twig growth of shrubs, woody vines, and trees that is available for animal consumption.

A chemical substances, such as sodium bicarbonate, that can maintain the pH of the rumen content around neutrality (pH = 6 to 7). The pH is maintained by neutralizing the volatile fatty acids and other organic acids produced by ruminal fermentation.

A bull used for natural mating after mutiple artificial insemination attempts have failed to establish pregnancy.

A unit of heat that can be used to measure the amount of energy in a feed or a ration. A calorie is the amount heat required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water from 14.5 ° centigrade to 15.5 ° centigrade.

(see Parturition)

Any of a group of chemical compounds, including sugars, starches, and cellulose, containing only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, with a ratio of hydrogen to oxygen of 2:1.

A gas produced by combustion or oxidation of organic matter. Carbon dioxide is also produced in large quantities during ruminal fermentation.

Fibrous structure that provides rigidity to the plant. The cell wall is composed of digestible fibrous carbohydrates (cellulose; hemicellulose and pectin) and an indigestible phenolic compounds (e.g., lignin and tannin).

A polymer - long chain- of glucose units. Cellulose is the most abundant organic matter in the world. It is a major component of plant cell wall. Ruminant can use cellulose as an energy source because of fermentation by bacteria in the rumen.

A plant in the grass family (gramineae), the seeds (i.e., grain) of which are used for human and animal food (e.g., maize, rice and wheat).

To crush or grind (food) in the mouth by continued action of the teeth with the help of the tongue (syn to masticate).

Feedstuffs usually rich in energy and coming from the part of the plant that accumulate nutrient reserves for an embryo (fruits, nuts, seeds and grains). The word concentrate is also used to refer to the mixture of minerals and other supplements used to feed dairy cattle.

A measure of the amount of protein in a feed determined as the amount of nitrogen multiplied by 6.25. The factor 6.25 is the average grams of protein that contains 1 gram of nitrogen. The word "crude" refers to the fact that not all nitrogen in most feed is exclusively in the form of protein. Because most feeds contain non-protein nitrogen (NPN), crude protein generally overestimates the actual protein content of a feed.

A measure of the concentration of matter per unit of volume (e.g., g/l or kg/m3)

Pathologically excessive evacuation of watery feces. Diarrhea may be due to an infectious agent (bacterial infection) or a dietary imbalance.

The mixture of digestive secretion, bacterial population and feeds undergoing digestion in the gastro-intestinal tract (such as rumen content).

A measure of the proportion of a feed that is digestible. The digestibility of a nutrient is often measured as the difference between the amount of nutrient ingested minus the amount of nutrient excreted in the feces, expressed as a percentage of the nutrient ingested: 100 x (intake - excreted)/intake.

That part of the feed which is not water. It is usually determined by the residual weight of a sample placed for a period of time in a drying oven that removes the water from the sample. Usually, the dry matter content of a feed is expressed as a percentage. For example, an hay of 85% dry matter contains 85 g of dry matter for each 100 g of fresh feed.

A method of expressing the concentration of a nutrient in a feed. For example, a feed containing 12% crude protein on a dry matter basis contains 12 g of protein for each 100 g of feed dry matter

Quantity of dry matter ingested by a cow in a 24 h period. For example, a cow eating 18 kg of grass silage of 33% of dry matter ingest 18 x 0.33 = 6 kg of grass silage dry matter.

First part of the small intestine. The secretions of the liver and pancreas are discharged into the duodenum.

The seed-bearing part of a cereal plant. An ear of corn is composed of the grains, the cob, but not the husk, which are removed during harvesting.

An organism, animal or vegetal, at its early stage of development.

The nutritive tissue of a plant seed, surrounding and absorbed by the embryo.

A measure of the concentration of energy in a feed or a ration usually expressed as a unit of energy (megacalorie or megajoule) per lb of dry matter or per kg of dry matter.

Method used to select cows which are eligible for hormonal treatment (such as Ovsynch). For example, the enrollment plan may be defined by the voluntary waiting period or a negative pregnancy check.

Usually a protein that accelerates a biochemical reaction at body temperature, without being used up in the process (see also catalyst).

Membranous tissue, usually in a single layer, composed of closely arranged cells separated by very little intercellular substance. The epithelium forms the lining of the respiratory, intestinal, and urinary tracts and the outer surface of the body.

The removal of a material from an organism. Example of material excreted include tears, urine, feces, sweat and carbon dioxide. Examples of an organism's organs involved in excretion include eyes, bladder, rectum, skins and lungs.

An animal that tests as negative but who is actually positive. The percent of false negative for a test can be calculated as 100 – SENSITIVITY.

An animal that tests as positive but who is actually negative. The percent of false positive for a test can be calculated as 100 – SPECIFICITY.

The transformation of carbohydrates in absence of oxygen by rumen micro flora that produces volatile fatty acids such as acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid, and gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4).

The unborn young.

Nutrient of low energy density present in large quantities in forages. Fiber is composed of structural carbohydrates (cellulose and hemicellulose) and phenolic compounds. Fiber is important for dairy cows because they stimulate rumination and promote a healthy rumen environment for bacterial growth. However, in large amounts in the diet, fiber may fill the rumen, limit intake of energy and constrain milk production.

Hemicellulose and cellulose that can be quantify by the neutral detergent fiber procedure.

Coarse feeds, such as straw, corn or sorghum stalks.

Feed that stimulate rumination due to their long particle size and their high content in fiber. Generally, forages are composed of the leaves and stems (stalk of plants. The bacterial population of the rumen allows the ruminant to digest forages.

Usually expressed as two percentages. The percentage of ration dry matter that is made up of forage and the percentage of ration dry matter that is composed of concentrates. The two total 100. For example a 50:50 forage to concentrate ratio means that a cow eating 20 kg of dry matter of that ration would eat 10 kg of concentrate dry matter and 10 kg of forage dry matter.

A sweet sugar occurring in many fruits and honey.

The stomach and the intestine as a functional unit.

the embryo of a plant present in the seed.

To begin to or to cause to grow (syn to sprout.

A six carbon sugar which is the building block of starch and cellulose. Glucose is rapidly fermented into volatile fatty acids by ruminal bacteria.

A three carbon sugar which form the backbone of triglycerides and other fats.

An enlargement of the thyroid gland associated with iodine deficiency and visible as a swelling at the front of the neck.

Family of plants including rye grass, fescue, brome, timothy and other herbaceous plants often referred to as grass. Cereals are gramineous plants but often, they are considered apart from the grass because they are cropped for the grain rather than the vegetative parts of the plant.

A period of 9 to 24 hours preceding the ovulation during which cows are receptive to bulls and exhibit a typical behavior of mounting other cows or standing when mounted by other cows (or a bull).

A young female cow that has not yet given birth to a calf.

A type of carbohydrate similar to cellulose except that it contain not only glucose but also other 6 carbon sugars and also 5 carbon sugars.

An iron rich protein found in the red blood cells which function as a carrier of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

A strong desire for food.

The arrangement of flowers on a stalk that characterizes a plant species.

A unit of measurement of the amount of biologically active vitamin in a feed or required in a diet.

The whole grain of a cereal. The meats of nuts and drupes (single stoned fruits).

A condition characterized by a lack of appetite, especially for concentrates and an abnormally high concentration of ketone bodies (e.g., acetone, hydroxy-butyrate) in the blood. Ketosis or acetonemia occurs when the cow mobilizes large amounts of body reserves in early lactation.

One thousand calories.

A disaccharide composed of a unit of glucose and a unit of galactose. Also known as milk sugar, lactose is produced commercially from whey.

A feed or drugs that will induce bowel movements (defecation) and relieve constipation.

Structure, usually flat and green that grows from a stem or stalk of a plant and is responsible for photosynthesis.

A plant of the family leguminosae which bears a pod that splits into two valves with the seed attached to lower edge of one of the valves (examples: pea, bean, clover, alfalfa, lespedeza). Also, legumes are characterized by the nodules on their roots that allow these plants to use atmospheric nitrogen reducing the need for nitrogen fertilizer and improving soil fertility.

A sedimentary rock, chiefly calcium carbonate (CaCO3), containing variable amounts of magnesium. It is used as building stone, but also as a source of calcium in ration of animals.

An enzyme that breaks down fat.

Protein coated packages that transport fats in the bloodstream

A large gland that has multiple functions, one of which is to secrete bile and digestive enzymes that are mixed with the digesta entering the duodenum.

One of the 20 amino acids constituting the building blocks of proteins. Animals have a high requirement for lysine, and it is often deficient in proteins of plants.

A diet that supplies the nutrients required to maintain vital functions (heart beat, respiration) and assure a constant body temperature.

A physiological state in which the animal is neither gaining nor losing weight, performing work or expending nutrients for any type of production.

1. The episodes of feed ingestion throughout the day.
2. The edible seed or other edible part of a grain, coarsely ground (as opposed to flour which is finely ground).

The mean of a normal distribution is the most likely value (the value that has the lowest probability of being "wrong"). The mean is the best measure of central tendency of a normal distribution. With a normal distribution, approximately one-half of the samples have values lower than the mean and one-half have values higher than the mean.

One million calories.

Refers to all of the changes that nutrients undergo after they are absorbed from the digestive tract. Metabolism is divided into anabolism and catabolism.

A product of metabolism of nutrients.

In ruminant nutrion, metabolizable protein, often abbreviated MP, is the amount of digestible protein that reach the small intestine, which is the source of amino acids absorbed into the blood. The three main sources of MP include rumen undegraded protein (the dietary protein fraction that has not been degraded in the rumen), the microbial (bacterial) protein synthesized in the rumen from the fermentation process, and the endogenous protein (intestinal digestive enzymes and sloughed cells from the gastro-intestinal tract). The latter source is minimal.

Inflammation of the uterus.

Animal or vegetal organism of microscopic dimension (syn Microorganism).

Condition that occurs immediately or within the first day after calving. The cow has cold ears and a dry muzzle. This condition is due to a calcium imbalance. As opposed to what the name implies, there is no "fever", but rather a paralysis of the limbs.

1. The inorganic chemical elements (e.g., calcium phosphorus magnesium) determined by combusting a sample in a furnace and weighing the mineral residue. 2. Minerals play major roles in numerous metabolic processes. (syn Ash).

The amount of energy in a feed which is available for milk production and body maintenance. Feeds generally are similar in total energy content but vary widely in the proportion of the total energy which is available for maintenance and milk production. The remainder of the energy in the feed is lost in the feces urine, gas belched form the rumen and excess heat production by the cow. In the cow, it takes 0.74 Mcal NEl to produce 1 kg of milk containing 4% fat and the net energy content of most feed range from 0.9 to 2.2 Mcal NEl per kg dry matter.

A measure of the amount of cell wall in a feed determined by a laboratory procedure. Neutral detergent fiber includes cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin.

Carbohydrates that are not part of the neutral detergent fiber, but generally accumulate in the plant as energy reserve (e.g., starch). These carbohydrates usually are more rapidly and more completely digested than the fibrous carbohydrates (syn Non-structural carbohydrate).

Nitrogen that comes from a source other than protein but may be used by a ruminant in the building of protein. NPN sources include compounds such as urea and anhydrous ammonia, which are used in feed formulations for ruminant only.

(see non-fiber carbohydrate).

The chemical substances found in feeds that can be used, and are necessary, for the maintenance, production and health of the animal. The main classes of nutrients are carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, vitamins and water.

This refers to meeting the animal's need of the various classes of nutrients for maintenance, growth, reproduction, lactation and physical work.

extremely fat.

Compounds composed of carbon oxygen hydrogen and nitrogen. All living organisms are composed primarily of organic matter. Fats, carbohydrates and proteins are examples of organic compounds.

An irregularly shaped gland that secretes pancreatic juice into the duodenum and produces insulin that is released into the blood.

1. Small projections on the inner surface of the rumen and the reticulum wall that increase the surface area of absorption of volatile fatty acids and other end-products of bacterial fermentation.

Protuberances at the surface of the tongue that detect the taste of a feed.

A digestive enzyme found in the gastric juice that breaks down proteins into peptides.

1. At least 2 but not more that 100 amino acids linked together by a peptic bound. 2. Product of pepsin digestion of proteins.

Organic substance in which the carbon atoms are linked together in a ring structure (also called aromatic structure). Lignin is an example of phenolic compound.

The process by which the chlorophyll of plants converts carbon dioxide and water into simple sugars with the simultaneous release of oxygen.

An organ that develops during pregnancy in female mammals. It lines the uterus and partially envelopes the fetus, to which it is attached by the umbilical cord. Following birth, the placenta, then called the after birth, is normally expelled. The retention of the placenta usually leads to bacterial infection of the uterus called metritis.

1. The degree with which a measurement is reproducible, that is, yielding similar results when repeated (see also Accuracy).
2. the number of significant digits to which a value has been reliably measured.

Having one or several fetus growing inside the uterus.

Digestive enzyme that breakdown proteins into peptides.

A chain or multiple chains of amino acids (more than 100). Proteins are composed of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen nitrogen (16% on average,found in the form of amino acids) and often sulfur. Proteins have important functions in the body. They are present in all plants and animals and they are essential in the ration of animals. See also Crude Protein.

The part of a plant embryo that develops into the primary root.

Reversal of the natural direction in which contents flow through a tube or a cavity in the body. During rumination, rumen contents are regurgitated through the esophagus in the mouth for further mastication.

The first two stomachs of a ruminant comprised of the reticulum and the rumen. A microbial population lives in the rumen and enable the cow to digest dietary fiber. The digesta in the rumen and the reticulum is being exchanged once about every 50 to 60 seconds under the influence of a rhythmic cycle of contraction which also results in passage of some digesta from the reticulum into the omasum through the reticulo-omasal orifice.

The second stomach of a ruminant in which folds of the mucous membrane form hexagonal cells. Also called honeycomb stomach. The reticulum is joined to the omasum by the reticulo-omasal orifice.

A root-like usually horizontal stem growing under or along the ground that sends out roots from its lower surfaces and leaves or shoots from its upper surface.

A deficiency disease resulting from a lack of vitamin D or lack of sunshine exposure, characterized by defective bone growth.

The large first compartment of the stomach of a ruminant from which food is regurgitated and in which cellulose in broken down by the action of the symbiotic bacterial, protozoa, and fungal populations.

The movement of a material from one place to another. Secretion is often required to move a material to the place where it can be excreted. Examples of materials secreted include all materials excreted (see Excretion above), plus enzymes, hormones and saliva. The organs that play a role in secretion include all those involved in excretion, plus the digestive glands like salivary glands, pancreas, liver and gallbladder and endocrine glands like the thyroid gland, pituitary gland, and ovaries and testes.

A fertilized and ripened plant ovule containing an embryo capable of germinating to produce a new plant.

The probability that a test is positive, given that the animal has the disease (See also specificity).

The clear yellowish fluid obtained upon separating the clotted whole blood into its liquid and solid (red and white blood cells) components.

Method of preservation of fresh forages based on the partial fermentation of the sugars in absence of oxygen. Silage can be made in various silos.

(a) Any of the cells of a plant or animal except the reproductive cells. (b) Milk somatic cells are primarily leukocytes (white blood cells) and some epithelial cells shed from the lining of the mammary gland. The leukocytes are derived from blood and consist of macrophages, lymphocytes, and polymorphonuclear cells, primarily neutrophils (PMN). Normal milk does contain somatic cells, and the concentration of these cells is almost always less than 100,000 cells/ml in milk from uninfected/uninflamed mammary quarters.

The probability that a test is negative, given that the animal does not have the disease (see also sensitivity).

A ring-like muscle that maintains constriction of a bodily passage or orifice and opens upon relaxation.

Standard deviation (SD) is a measure of the dispersion of a set of data from its mean. If the data points are further from the mean, there is higher deviation within the data set. The SD shares the same unit as the mean. The SD is calculated as the square root of variance by determining the variation between each data point relative to the mean. The symbol for standard deviation is σ (the Greek letter sigma). Approximately, in a normal distribution,
38% of all observations are within ± 0.5 SD units of the mean;
68% of all observations are within ± 1 SD units of the mean;
95% of all observations are within ± 2 SD units of the mean;
99% of all observations are within ± 3 SDunits of the mean.

The main upward growing axis of a plant, usually above the ground and in direction opposite of the roots.

Fodder; mature-cured stalks from which seeds have been removed, such as stalks of corn or stalk of sorghum without heads.

(see Fibrous carbohydrate).

Narrowly defined, SI refers to increase food production from existing farmland in ways that place far less pressure on the environment and that do not undermine our capacity to continue producing food in the future. However, Garnett et al. (2013) added the following four premises underlying SI: (a) The need to increase production; (b) Increase production must be met through higher yields because increasing the area of land in agriculture carries major environmental costs; (c) Food security requires as much attention to increasing environmental sustainability as to raising productivity; and (d) SI denotes a goal but does not specify a priori how it should be attained or which agricultural techniques to deploy.

Property of feed detected by some papillae of the tongue and the roof of the mouth resulting in a positive or negative response to further ingestion of the feed.

Method of AI breeding in which the timing of artificial insemination (AI) is based on a hormonal protocol that synchronizes the timing of ovulation. This is in contrast to timing insemination based on direct or indirect detection of estrous behavior. Hormonal protocols for Timed AI were developed in 1995 and have been widely adopted by dairy producers for reproductive management.

Mixture of the forages, concentrates, minerals and vitamin supplements of a ration. The total mixed ration has the advantage of offering a balanced ration at each meal rather than on a 24 h basis.

A fat composed of three fatty acids and glycerol.

Mammary gland of a cow.

Ray in sunlight which enables vitamin D to be synthesized under the skin.

Usually refers to feeding insufficient energy.

Fat containing fatty acids that can accept hydrogen atoms to saturate their structure (e.g., oleic, linoleic, linolenic and arachidonic acids).

A nitrogen-containing organic compound found in urine and other body fluids. Urea is synthesized from ammonia and carbon dioxide. Urea can be used as fertilizer or as a source of nitrogen in the ration of ruminants.

The parts of plants that are involved in the growth as opposed to the parts of plants involved in reproduction.

Particles that carry cholesterol and fat throughout the bloodstream. These particles are released from the liver into the bloodstream. They are similar to chylomicrons which originate from the gut because they both carry cholesterol and triglycerides which are gradually released in the bloodstream to be absorbed by body cells along the way. In the process of losing triglycerides, the VLDLs grow smaller and turn into LDLs (Low Density Lipoprotein) which have lost all their triglycerides.

Evaporating readily at normal temperature and pressure.

Products of fermentation of carbohydrates (and some amino acids) by the rumen microorganisms. Acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid are the primary volatile fatty acids which are absorbed through the rumen wall and used as an energy source by the cow.

The number of days between calving and first attempt to breed a cow. A typical voluntary waiting period is 45 days. However, it may varies from less than 40 to 80 days depending on farmer’s preference and reproductive protocol in place on the farm.

The liquid fraction that remains after the separation of curd in cheese making. Its main food use is in the preparation of whey cheese, whey drinks and fermented whey drinks. The main industrial uses are in the manufacture of lactose, whey paste and dried whey.