These two samples of manure were collected from a fresh cow pen, were transferred to a ~1.5 mm screen, rinsed with water, and dried.  Ostensibly, the animals producing these samples were consuming the same diet.  The sample on the left has the fine particle size that would be associated with adequate rumination and ruminal digestion and retention.  It was also from a more normal looking defecation, slightly soft, slightly piled.  The sample on the right came from a very loose, bubbly defecation.  Note the large, coarse particles of undigested forage that escaped particle size reduction.  Not normal and suggestive of ruminal dysfunction.  It is possible that the cows were not receiving similar diets if one or the other were sorting their feed, and that could give the two apparently different fecal particle sizes.

Dairy manure samples with fine or coarse fecal particles

Credit: Mary Beth Hall

Digital Credit: Mary Beth Hall

Publisher: None

Rights: Image Gallery user terms

Description: These two samples of manure were collected from a fresh cow pen, were transferred to a ~1.5 mm screen, rinsed with water, and dried. Ostensibly, the animals producing these samples were consuming the same diet. The sample on the left has the fine particle size that would be associated with adequate rumination and ruminal digestion and retention. It was also from a more normal looking defecation, slightly soft, slightly piled. The sample on the right came from a very loose, bubbly defecation. Note the large, coarse particles of undigested forage that escaped particle size reduction. Not normal and suggestive of ruminal dysfunction. It is possible that the cows were not receiving similar diets if one or the other were sorting their feed, and that could give the two apparently different fecal particle sizes.

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