Abstract: Pellets adapted to be orally administered to ruminants are disclosed. The pellets have a core of a material beneficial to the ruminant such as a nutrient and/or medicament, and a coating which protects the core in the environment of the rumen, and allows utilization of the core in the abomasum and/or intestines. The coating comprises a polymeric matrix which is resistant to the mildly acidic environment of the rumen at pH of about 5.5 and a hydrophobic substance dispersed throughout the continuous matrix. The continuity of the polymeric matrix is destroyed in the more acidic environment of the abomasum.