Abstract As a ruminant, cattle can consume and digest forages via microbial fermentation for energy production. The plant cell wall is composed of fiber carbohydrates, contributing to neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF), which are less digestible than non-fiber carbohydrate components of the inner plant cell. Forages can provide physically effective fiber which help to stimulate rumination, salivation, maintain rumen motility, and help maintain ruminal pH. These characteristics and overall diet digestibility can be influenced by forage source, plant maturity, particle size, inclusion level in the diet, and associative effects with feed bunk management and grain processing. Feedlot finishing diets commonly contain less than 15% forage. Dairy-influenced cattle typically spent a greater number of days consuming a low forage finishing diet which may partially lead to a greater incidence of digestive upsets and liver abscesses compared with beef-type cattle. The lack of physically effective fiber in the diet over time can lead to compromised digestive health such as ruminal acidosis, rumenitis, bloat, laminitis, and liver abscesses. Additionally, the lack of dietary fiber decreases rumination and increases the display of non-nutritive oral behaviors such as tongue rolling, licking of objects, and grooming from cattle. The consumption of foreign objects in search of fiber, such as wood chewing or hair from excessive grooming, could damage the epithelial tissue and provide bacteria access to the portal blood and lead to a greater incidence of liver abscesses in cattle. Adequate inclusion of physically effective fiber in feedlot cattle finishing diets is necessary to maintain rumination and digestive health over extended days on feed.
Jerad Jaborek (Wed,) studied this question.