Importance of Mastication, Saliva, and Fodder in Dairy Animals

Healthy digestion is the foundation of productivity in dairy farming. Among the many factors that influence an animal’s health and milk yield, mastication (chewing cud), saliva production, and fodder quality play the most critical roles. Understanding how these three elements work together helps farmers improve feed efficiency, milk production, and overall herd health.

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1. Mastication: The First Step of Digestion

In cows and buffaloes, mastication or cud chewing is the first and most important stage of digestion. After eating, the animal regurgitates partially digested feed from the rumen back into the mouth to chew it again. This process breaks down the fodder into smaller particles, allowing rumen microbes to act more efficiently.

When animals don’t chew the cud properly, digestion becomes incomplete, and a large portion of nutrients passes out in dung. This leads to poor feed conversion efficiency and reduced milk yield.

A healthy herd usually shows 50–60% of animals lying down and chewing cud with their eyes closed—a clear sign of good digestion and comfort.

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2. Saliva: The Unsung Hero of Digestion

An adult cow or buffalo produces around 120–150 litres of saliva per day. This saliva has an alkaline pH (8.2–8.4) and is rich in bicarbonate and phosphate ions, which maintain rumen pH and create an ideal environment for microbial fermentation.

Unlike other animals, bovine saliva does not contain enzymes. Instead, it acts as a biochemical buffer that supports digestion, lubrication, and fermentation. Saliva helps:

• Buffer the rumen pH and prevent acidity
• Lubricate food for easier swallowing
• Recycle nutrients like nitrogen and minerals
• Support rumen microbes for better digestion Improve feed conversion efficiency and milk yield In short, more chewing = more saliva = better digestion.

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3. Fodder: The Foundation of Digestion

The type, quality, and length of fodder directly affect mastication and saliva production. Cows and buffaloes should be given fodder or agricultural waste in lengths of 4 to 6 inches. This ensures proper rumination and chewing.

Avoid feeding seeds, oilseed cakes, or finely ground material, as they reduce the rumen’s ability to regurgitate food, leading to digestive inefficiency.

Always provide clean and fresh water 24x7x365, allowing animals to drink freely and maintain proper saliva flow.

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The Food Cycle in Ruminants

The ruminant digestion process can be summarized as:

Fodder eaten → Regurgitation and mastication → Salivation → Better digestion → Higher feed conversion efficiency → Good health → Higher milk yield → Greater profit.

Final Thoughts

For efficient dairy farming, farmers must focus not just on feed quantity but on the entire digestive process. Ensuring proper mastication, saliva production, and quality fodder leads to better digestion, improved animal welfare, and increased profitability.

In simple terms: Good fodder + Proper chewing + Healthy saliva = Healthy cows and higher milk yield.

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