Gut health is one of the often underutilized components of a successful operation. Sure, people have a basic understanding of it when it comes to nutrients and their absorption, but that is usually as far as it goes. Producers often need to fully understand what it entails or even what factors can influence it.
When it comes to influencing gut health, there are three main factors. Besides infection, management and environmental factors can control it. Environmental factors can be things like stress from weaning or extreme weather. Management factors will be things like the type of feed that the producer provides to their cattle. Environmental and management factors can cause the infection factor to occur.
Once thought of as just part of the digestive system, research has begun to show the importance of the gut, or the gastrointestinal tract, for the overall well-being of the cow. The gastrointestinal tract is one of a ruminant’s most metabolically active tissues. According to a study in Animals, it accounts for approximately 20% of oxygen consumption and 30% of metabolic processes and protein synthesis. With all the functions the gut does, keeping it in top shape is essential.
