Bovine GI (Constable) Flashcards
How many ruminants are currently on the planet?
~150
What makes a ruminant a ruminant?
they chew their cud
3 Feeding Types of Ruminants
- Grass and Roughage Eater
- Concentrate Selectors
- Intermediate opportunistic, mixed feeders
expedient prehension
prey species eat real fast then run and hide and chew their cud in safety to decrease the fiber length
What do browsers have that other ruminants might not?
philtrum
philtrum
groove on the nose that helps browsers be more selective
torus linguae
the swelling of the tongue that pushes food against the hard palate
two buffering components of the rumen
bicarbonate and phosphate
3 Fatty Acids used by ruminants for energy instead of glucose
- Acetate (2C)
- Propionate (3C)
- Butyrate (4C)
Primary function of ruminal papillae
absorb short chain VFAs to change length of papilla inc. blood flow, mitotic activity, and surface area for absortion
3 Major Reticuloruminal Motility Patterns
- Primary contractions
- Secondary contractions
- Rumination
Which contraction type does not involve reticular contractions?
secondary
Which contractions are for eructating?
secondary
Which contractions are for mixing?
primary
Stratification of Rumen Contents
Fluid
Fibrous Mat
Gas
ballottment and succussion
“punch” the cow and feel/listen for sloshing of rume contents
Primary Contractions
reticulum pumps twice, rumen pumps to move material down and then back up
Can you hear reticular contractions?
sometimes, at ccjxn 7 or 8
What nerve controls primary contractions?
vagus nerve
Do primary contractions occur during anesthesia?
no
Factors that decrease Primary Contractions
fever, endotoxemia, pain, depression, anorexia, undissociated VFAs (pH below 5)
Rumen Acidosis
too many soluble carbohydrates lead to a low pH in the rumen that the mucosa beginsto slough off
How often do primary contractions occur?
approximately every 55 seconds
How often do secondary contraction occur?
once every 2 minutes, but it is random
