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Such processes are often too complex and involved to mention on such a website. However, a nutshell explaination can be had.

Dairy cows aren't fed just corn: they are also fed silage, hay, and other by-products and supplements to meet all of their nutritional requirements in order to achieve maximum milk production. Such rations, called TMR or total mixed rations are developed to optimize rumen efficiency while maximizing lactation.

Basically the microbes are responsible for turning the feed into usable nutrients for the cow to use in the form of microbial protein, VFAs such as proprionate, Vitamin B12, Vitamin K, and other essential nutrients. By-pass protein and starch that don't get digested and broken down in the rumen get digested and absorbed in the abomasum (true stomach) and the small intestine. These nutrients get into the blood stream which get transported to the cow's body cells including the milk cells and alveoli of the udder. These nutrients are used for milk synthesis and production. Leukocytes and dead skin cells also get in the milk right from inside the mammary glands and udder itself (not from the outside). All such nutrients made available in the milk are removed by the suckling calf or the milk machine.

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11y ago

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