THE SCIENCE BEHIND RUMENAI
Understanding the rumen.
Supporting disease prevention.
Discover how understanding fermentation can support healthier animals and better feeding decisions.
Acidity
How acidic is the rumen fluid?
A pH reading describes one condition inside the rumen: its acidity.
It does not give a complete picture of how feed is being broken down, how gases accumulate or how the animal responds.
Measuring acidity cannot explain the whole fermentation process.
Controlled fermentation
How well is the rumen working?
RumenAI focuses on understanding fermentation through dissolved CO₂ monitoring.
Our aim is to help farmers and advisers use that information to adjust feeding and management, maintain healthy digestion and prevent conditions that can lead to disease.
Understanding fermentation supports disease prevention, higher productivity and lower methane emissions.
Your questions, explained.
Inside the rumen
What happens inside the rumen?
The rumen is the cow’s largest stomach compartment. It contains microbes that break down feed into nutrients the animal can use. This process is called fermentation, and it also produces acids and gases.
Keeping this process working well is essential for healthy animals and efficient feeding.
Why does RumenAI focus on dissolved CO₂?
CO₂ is a natural part of fermentation. Some of it dissolves in the rumen fluid.
Our system explores how this dissolved CO₂ behaves, including when it accumulates and remains elevated. A pilot study found that dissolved CO₂ was directly responsible for digestive illness, highlighting the need to investigate CO₂.
Does that mean CO₂ is bad for cows?
No. CO₂ belongs in a functioning rumen. The important questions are how much is dissolved, how this changes over time and how it relates to digestion.
Our focus is on understanding that balance: when prolonged accumulation may trigger digestive problems and related diseases, and when optimal CO₂ levels contribute to higher production and methane abatement.
The RumenAI approach
How is RumenAI different from existing livestock monitoring?
Many systems track activity, chewing, temperature or acidity. These measurements provide information about the animal’s behaviour and the onset of disease.
RumenAI’s approach centres on optimising fermentation through dissolved CO₂ monitoring. We are developing this understanding into practical guidance for disease prevention, higher production, improved efficiency and methane abatement.
What is a rumen bolus, and what will RumenAI measure?
A rumen bolus is a device given by mouth and designed to remain inside the animal’s stomach.
RumenAI is developing a bolus that uses infrared light to measure dissolved CO₂ and other molecular signals in rumen fluid, providing information about fermentation as it happens.
What does the AI do?
The AI is being developed to recognise patterns in fermentation measurements and turn them into understandable guidance.
The goal is to help farmers connect what they feed with what happens inside the rumen, supporting healthier animals and better use of feed.
From understanding to action
How does this support disease prevention?
Prevention means taking effective action to reduce the chances of disease developing.
Our aim is to help farmers and advisers understand which feeding and management changes could keep fermentation working well—and check whether those changes are helping.
The measurements inform decisions. The preventive benefit comes from acting effectively on that information and stopping conditions that can lead to disease.
Fewer cases of disease mean fewer alarms to check and fewer treatments, leading to better overall farm performance.
Is RumenAI available yet?
RumenAI is in development. We are working towards a practical farm system and validating its measurements and benefits, including disease prevention, feed efficiency and potential methane reduction.
Farmers, researchers and industry partners interested in future collaboration can contact RumenAI.
Explore the scientific background on our Research and Patents page.
Fewer diseases. Fewer alarms to check. Fewer treatments.
Our goal: better fermentation management for healthier animals and better farm performance.