So, what is Gut Health? It relates to the gut’s ability to absorb nutrients and how it retains pathogens within the gastrointestinal tract. To have a healthy gut, every part of the intestinal wall must effectively retain microbes within the tract. If this isn’t working up to par, toxic pathogens can pass through a permeable […]

So, what is Gut Health?

It relates to the gut’s ability to absorb nutrients and how it retains pathogens within the gastrointestinal tract.

To have a healthy gut, every part of the intestinal wall must effectively retain microbes within the tract. If this isn’t working up to par, toxic pathogens can pass through a permeable lining into the body’s blood stream, a term also known as “leaky gut”.

A healthier microbiome helps improve performance, prevent leaky gut and mitigate stress — all of which lead to healthier cows and profits.

How does this relate to a cow?

A cow’s digestion has limited enzymes to break down cellulose and other compounds. Due to this, the guts microbiome has formulated a symbiotic relationship with microorganisms to help it digest. For this to undergo, the cow’s gastrointestinal tract requires an optimal environment for the microflora to thrive in.

If the animal experiences stress, it can affect this balance, weakening the gut’s lining. The pathogens will pass through as mentioned, resulting in various diseases such as laminitis, liver abscesses as well as inflammation.

A big part of a cow’s digestive tract is the rumen where feed digestion occurs and provides energy to the animal. However, the cow’s gut health is not isolated to this area, it encompasses the mouth all the way to the colon. Particularly within the intestines, where there is limited protection. Exhibiting only one cell layer to protect from the body compared to the multiple layers within the rumen,
so a strong immunity is critical to protect.

What causes cows to experience this negative gut health?

It is proven, when cattle are put on short-term feed restrictions, their gut goes into overdrive, affecting their overall gut health, thus consistency is key. Also, when cows are fed with a high-grain diet, this can trigger acidosis due to a drop in pH, weakening the gut barrier.

The majority of crops grown with glyphosate and other synthetic pesticides are fed to livestock, and testing glyphosate reveals that it has an effect on the cattle’s microbiome. It becomes absorbed by cows and excreted through their milk, resulting in traces of pesticides within commercial dairy.

Overall, the key to a healthy cow is sitting below its hooves.

If the soil growing its food is unhealthy, how are we to expect the meat we are eating and the milk we are drinking to be safe for us and our children.

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