Workings of the ruminal ecosystem and microbiota

Cow digestion occurs predominantly in the rumen, through fermentation by microbes rather than digestion by the animal itself. Here, a closer look at the processes taking place in this important chamber of the stomach. The rumen contains approximately 150 billion microorganisms per teaspoon. They consist of more than 500 species of bacteria, 40 species of protozoa, 30 species of fungi, and around 6 species of methanogenic archaea. Those microorganisms digest around 70-80% of the feed through fer