Lecture 6

Question 1

Ruminant Maxillary Incisor Teeth

Answer 1

Absent in ruminants.
Depend on dental pad, lower incisors, lips & tongue for prehension.
Molars shaped for one-sided chewing.

Question 2

Ruminant Lateral Jaw Movements

Answer 2

Aid in shredding tough plant fibers.

Question 3

Saliva production in ruminants

Answer 3

Continuous
Functions similarly to non-ruminants.
Increased quantities during eating/ruminating

Question 4

Composition of Saliva

Answer 4

Source of nitrogen, phosphorus, sodium.
Highly buffered for rumen microorganisms.

Question 5

Production Volume of Saliva

Answer 5

Cows: 150L or more daily.
Sheep: 10L or more daily.

Question 6

Major Modifications of Ruminant Stomach

Answer 6

One stomach, four compartments.
Reticulum, Rumen, Omasum, Abomasum.

Question 7

Compartments in Pseudo-Ruminants

Answer 7

No omasum (Camels, others).

Question 8

Size Comparison of Ruminant Stomach

Answer 8

Cattle stomach: 37% of GIT, 25% of total BW.
Holds up to 55 gallons.

Question 9

Epithelium in First 3 Compartments

Answer 9

Squamous epithelium, 1-2 cells thick.
Allows absorption.

Question 9

Pre-Gastric Fermentation

Answer 9

60-70% fermented before typical digestion.

Question 10

The reticulum is the

Answer 10

First Compartment
Honeycomb-like luminal surface.
Traps sharp objects, may cause hardware disease.

Question 11

Functions of Reticulum

Answer 11

Moves ingested food.
Assists in regurgitation.

Question 12

The rumen is the

Answer 12

Second Compartment
-Largest, lined with papillae.
-Strong muscular pillars for mixing and regurgitation.

Question 13

The omasum is the

Answer 13

Third Compartment
-Spherical shape.
-Side leaves prevent large particles from entering the abomasum.

Question 14

The Abomasum is the

Answer 14

Fourth Compartment
-Comparable to glandular stomach of non-ruminants.

Question 15

The Reticular Groove

Answer 15

In Young Nursing Ruminants
-Forms a tube from esophagus to omasum.
-Allows milk to escape bacterial fermentation.

Question 16

Rumination is basically a controlled form of vomiting

Answer 16

Forms bolus in reticulum.
Re-swallows liquid portion.
Re-masticates solid bolus.

Question 17

Duration of Rumination

Answer 17

8 hrs/day or more.
Stimulated by fibrous diets.

Question 18

Eruction or Belching of Gas

Answer 18

Result of microbial fermentation.
Prevents bloat.

Question 19

Rumen Fermentation - Carbohydrates

Answer 19

Composition of Herbivore Diet
Mostly fibrous and available carbs.

Question 20

Ruminal Acidosis

Answer 20

Result of abnormal fermentation of cereal grains.
High lactic acid production.

Question 21

Rumen Fermentation - Proteins

Answer 21

Attack on Dietary Proteins

Degraded to ammonia and organic acids.
Utilized by other rumen microbes.

Question 22

Protein sources for ruminants

Answer 22

Urea, amino acids, nitrates, biuret, amines.
Lower-cost alternatives.

Question 23

Consumption of lipids (ruminants)

Answer 23

Low, added at 5-7% of the total diet.
Usually unsaturated.

Question 24

Microbial Tolerance of Lipids

Answer 24

Intolerance to high dietary fat levels.
Results in abnormal fermentation.

Question 25

Rumen Fermentation - Vitamins: B-complex Synthesis

Answer 25

Microorganisms synthesize B-complex vitamins.
Cobalamin (B12) deficiency if low in cobalt.

Question 26

Rumen Fermentation - Vitamins: Thiamin (B1) Deficiency

Answer 26

High RAC diet may cause deficiency.
B12 & B1 deficiency with high RAC diets.

Question 27

Rumen Fermentation - Gas Production

Answer 27

Up to 600L/day in cattle.
CO2, CH4, N, O2, H2, H2S.

Question 28

Methane production in Ruminants

Answer 28

High heat equivalent, direct energy loss.
Produced during fermentation.

Question 29

Digestive Tract of Non-ruminant Herbivores

Answer 29

Extensive fermentation in hindgut.
No chambered stomach.

Question 30

What animals have a sacculated colon

Answer 30

Equids, new world monkeys, pigs, humans.

Question 31

What animals have a unsacculated colon

Answer 31

Fruit-eating bats, dogs, cats.

Question 32

What animals are cecal fermenters

Answer 32

Rodents, rabbits, capybara.

Question 33

Microbial Digestion in Colon is not as efficient as in ruminants when digesting fibers.

Answer 33

Fermentation of fiber into VFAs.
Important for meeting nutritional requirements.