ruminal and fecal material assessment SDL Flashcards
which side of the cow is the rumen on
left side
the absorptive surface of the rumen are known as what
rumen papilla
rumen papilla are used predominantly for what
absorbing volatile fatty acids
the interior of the rumen is lined with which type of epithelium
stratified squamous
the size and length of the ruminal papillae correspond to what factor
concentrations of volatile fatty acids in the rumen
what does the rumen do
designed to digest cellulose which is from plant cell wallls.
digestion of cellulose results in the production of what
volatile fatty acids
what is the primary energy source of the ruminant
volatile fatty acids
how does the rumen digest cellulose
needs to make the fod smaller as does not possess the enzyme needed to break down cellulose
- cudding ( food is eaten and chewed, swallowed then returned to the mouth for further chewing)
- muscle contractions of the rumen to mix
- large microbiome which posess the correct enzymes to break down plant material which produces volatile fatty acids
which categories of organisms live in the rumen
- bacteria
- protozoa
- fungi
- archaea
- yeast
what are bacteria doing in the rumen
- feeding on cellulose, lignin, starch, oil and protein
- responsible for breakdown and digestion of cellulose
- digest fibre, starch and proteins to synthesize vitamin B and K
which volatile acids are produced in the rumen
- acetate
- propionate
- butyrate
what do protozoa do in the rumen
- digest fibre, plant material, lipids, proteins
- synthesize long fatty acid chains
- the more fibre in the diet the more protozoa they have
what do fungi do in the rumen
- assist in the absorption of fibrous feeds by increasing enzymatic breakdown of fibrous products and increase surface area
- secrete high levels of very active fibre-degrading enzymes including cellulases, hemicellulases, xylanases and glycosidases
what do archaea do in the rumen
- produce methane
- methanogenesis is essential for rest of microbes to work efficiently as there would be too much hyrdogen if archaea did not exist to turn it into methane
describe briefly where the digestive organs exist within the abdomen in ruminants
how would you access the rumen for physical exam
left hand side in the left paralumbar fossa (below transverse processes of the lumbar vertebrae) caudal to the 13th rib
scoring rumen fill is important because
5 point scale where ideally cow will be a 3. 1-2 is not enough fill to rumen = not eating, 4-5 could indicate bloat
palpation of the rumen in a normal animal will reveal what
this is done by pushing your hand in the flat position into the paralumbar fossa and feeling what the rumen feels like.
In the normal animal, the contents of the upper part of the rumen have a doughy consistency, but digital pressure should not leave a lasting impression once palpation ceases. In some diseases, the rumen can feel small (e.g. LDAs) or large (bloat) and the consistency can change, for example being harder in conditions such as milk fever and vagal indigestion.
you also want to feel strong contractions frequently (stron enough to oush your hand out of the paralumbar fossa.) should see 3 every 2 minutes
what sort of sounds are normal to auscultate from the rumen
- place stethoscope on left paralumbar fossa and listen for rumen contractions
what qualities do you assess in feces for rumen health
- volume (50 kg per day) so should always be feces present whenever examining a cow
- consistency: indicates whether ration is balanced or if able to digest efficiently (shouldnt look like horse poop)
- colour: brown/green depending on diet
- whole food pieces (after sieving) should not see whole barley, corn or forage particles longer than 1/2 inch long
a cow fecal score of 1 is described as:
This manure is very liquid with the consistency of pea soup. The manure may actually “arc” from the cow. Excess protein or starch, too much mineral, or lack of fiber can lead to this score. Cows with diarrhea will be in this category.
a feca score of 2 in cows is described as:
This manure appears runny and does not form a distinct pile. It will measure less than one inch in height and “splatters” when it hits the ground or concrete. Cows on lush pasture will commonly have this manure score. Low fiber or a lack of functional fiber can also lead to this manure score.
a fecal score of 3 in cows is described as:
This is the optimal score! The manure has a porridge-like appearance, will stack up 1½ to 2 inches, has several concentric rings, a small depression or dimple in the middle, makes a plopping sound when it hits concrete floors, and it will stick to the toe of your shoe.