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Maintenance of gut health in ruminants through nutrition


BY DR SALAH HAMED ESMAIL, INDEPENDENT CORRESPONDENT S


everal, complex mechanisms are involved in GIT functionality and health, it is therefore crucial to de- fine these interactions so that strategies for the modulation of GIT functionality and health, in the


context of improved animal performance, can be developed. The following are the nutritional strategies to be employed for achieving this purpose.


1. Dietary protein Dietary protein is an important nutritional factor for maintain- ing immune homeostasis in the GIT. It can also modify the GIT microbial composition and metabolism modulating the produc- tion of antimicrobial peptides that can interfere with the growth and the adhesion of pathogens to the intestinal mucosa.


2. Dietary fibre Low-fibre diets can be very stressful for animals because they allow fermentation acids to accumulate in the rumen. The acid build-up can cause ulcers in animals consuming too much grain with little fibre. The infective bacteria then come from the rumen through the ulcers into the bloodstream and finally into the liver, where they cause abscesses. Dietary fibre is also essential for the stimulation of beneficial bacteria such


Effective functionality of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and its health are important factors in determining animal performance (growth, milk yield, and meat quality). By applying a nutritional approach, gut health can be maintained, improving animal health and performance.


as lactobacillus which sustain gastrointestinal health as the attachment of Lactobacilli to the GIT mucosa can protect animals from GIT infection. However, these beneficial effects of dietary fibre on gastrointestinal functionality can be easily offset by the fact that dietary fibre can decrease total tract digestibility as a result of increased bulk in the large intestine and faeces. Therefore, excess fibre can have the opposite effects while moderate levels of fibre can improve GIT functionality and animal performance.


3. Dietary fat The addition of fat to the ruminant rations is an efficient way of reducing methane production and hence improving ru- men health, energy utilisation, and animal performance. A 20% reduction in methane emission could allow growing cat- tle to gain an additional 75 g/d of weight. In lactating cows, a 20% reduction in methane emissions represents the same


A nutritional approach can be taken to ensure the effective functioning of the GIT.


▶ GUT HEALTH | DECEMBER 2020 113


PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK


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