Module 3-ruminant digestion

Question 1

what are dominant ruminant species in extensive operations

Answer 1

cows, goats and sheep

Question 2

what is a true ruminant digestive tract characterized by

Answer 2

a four-compartment stomach that facilitates the digestion of fibre

Question 3

what does An extensive microbial population in the compartments of the ruminant stomach do

Answer 3

responsible for fermenting plant fibre to produce volatile fatty acids (vfa) that are the primary energy source for the ruminant

Question 4

what happens to cellulose and hemicellulose when digested by a ruminant

Answer 4

thirty to fifty percent is digested

Question 5

what happens to starches and sugars digested by a ruminant

Answer 5

around 60 percent of starches are digested and almost all sugars are digested

Question 6

what happens to dietary protein ingested by a ruminant

Answer 6

forty percent will be broken down and converted into ammonia, amino acids, organic acids, and other products

Question 7

what are the four compartments of the ruminant’s stomach

Answer 7

1) the rumen
2) the reticulum
3) the omasum
4) the abomasum

Question 8

what is the function of the rumen

Answer 8

the largest compartment is the primary site of fermentation

Question 9

what is the function of the reticulum

Answer 9

moves small particles of digesta from the rumen and traps heavy particles

Question 10

what is the function of the omasum

Answer 10

functions to absorb water and products of fermentation because it has a high SA

Question 11

what is the function of the abomasum

Answer 11

(where hydrochloric acid is secreted and the functions of the stomach in non-ruminants are carried out)?

Question 12

explain the pathway of food through the rumen digestive tract

Answer 12

1) Fibre enters the cow’s mouth and is transported via the esophagus to the reticulum
2) From the reticulum, it enters the rumen or it can commence an almost direct journey back to the mouth for further chewing
3) Usually, the digesta will be moved around the rumen, return to the reticulum and then either travel back to the mouth or onto the omasum
4) Digesta then travels on to the abomasum, the small intestine, and the large intestine
5) Waste matter moves on to the rectum and is deposited

Question 13

what is pseudoruminants

Answer 13

they have three stomach compartments found in camelids (camels, llamas, and alpacas)

Question 14

what are the three compartments of the stomach for pseudoruminants

Answer 14

C-1, C-2, C-3

Question 15

what is the function of the C-1

Answer 15

parallels that of the rumen, housing a large microbial population responsible for fermentation of fibre

Question 16

what is the function of C-2 and C-3

Answer 16

resemble the omasum and abomasum