Ruminating on grain overload

Avoiding Rumen Acidosis in cattle, sheep and goats

Ruminants like cattle, sheep, and goats have a unique digestive system that allows them to gain energy from forage such as mature pasture grass and hay. The carbohydrates found in these feeds help to provide ruminants with healthy energy, but did you know that consuming high amounts of certain other types of carbohydrates can be dangerous—and even deadly? Dr. Brian Shoemake, a clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, discusses the physiology behind grain overload, treatment methods, and how to safely incorporate grain into ruminants’ diets. Ruminants are herbivores with four stomach chambers that each play a unique role in digestion. They get their name from the rumen—the first and largest chamber—which acts as a storage area and the location where microbes digest and ferment feed...