Digestion and Metabolism of Ruminants

The role of ruminants in food production, their digestion and metabolism, two important metabolic diseases encountered by ruminants at high levels of production, and several opportunities for improving the productivities and efficiencies of ruminants are illustrated. The most significant advances in ruminant nutrition have been achieved through the development of superior feeding standards based upon our knowledge of digestion and metabolism and application of these in computer programs used for diet formulation. Future opportunities lie in further improvement in feeding practices, manipulation of digestive functions to advantage, enhancing productivity and efficiency through identification of superior animals for (genetic) selection, and/or manipulation of metabolic processes.