Well Cow’s wireless redox sensor on the market

Well Cow’s wireless bolus redox sensors are now available which can be used to monitor enzymatic oxidation-reduction reactions in the rumen of farm animals. These reactions can be positive in terms of allowing the animals to extract more usable nutrients from feed ingredients through microbial fermentation as well as digesting the microbes themselves. Microbes contain significant amounts of protein that are highly digestible and can support a great deal of the milk production of a dairy cow. However, these reactions are not always positive. Rumen microbes under the right conditions can be directly or indirectly responsible for some disease syndromes as a result of the fermentation process and toxic substances may be generated. These will adversely affect animal health and compounds may be produced that alter animal metabolism and productivity. Rumen microbes may also be responsible for reducing the availability of some essential dietary nutrients from the feed. Researchers can now investigate the impact of changes to dietary inputs on the oxidation-reduction reactions in the rumen over long periods using the bolus which records redox potential and temperature every fifteen minutes and stores the data for later download using the wireless reader.