Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Animal Nutrition Exam 3 > Ruminant digestion > Flashcards

Ruminant digestion Flashcards

1
Q

What is the function of a ruminant’s complex stomach?

A

utilize CHO sources (cellulose)
produce food and other products using CHO

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the progression of food through the digestive system of a ruminant (9 steps)

A
  1. mouth
  2. esophagus
  3. rumen
  4. reticulum
  5. omasum
  6. abomasum
  7. small intestine
  8. cecum
  9. large intestine
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what is unique about ruminant dental anatomy

A

there are no upper teeth, they instead have a hard dental pad

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

what is the function of the mouth in ruminants

A

reduce particle size by teeth grinding

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the two functions of saliva in ruminants?

A
  1. moisten food
  2. provide buffer for the rumen
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

name the three VFAs produced by the microorganisms in the rumen

A
  1. acetate
  2. proprionate
  3. butyrate
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

the esophagus in ruminants functions in ______

A

both directions for rumination

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

The rumen can make up ___% of the body weight of an animal

A

20%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

compared to monogastrics, the abomasum can be considered ______

A

true or glandular stomach (lined with mucous membrane and producing gastric juice)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

The rumen and reticulum can together be considered ______

A

the forestomach

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the name for the type of tissue that lines the rumen and reticulum (forestomach)

A

stratified squamous epithelium

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Does stratified squamous epithelium have any secretions?

A

no

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the function of the rumen?

A
  1. act as the site of anaerobic and microbial fermentation
  2. absorption of fermentation end products (VFAs)
  3. store food (consuming large amounts to digest later)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the name of the shunt that allows milk to pass directly from the esophagus to the omasum?

A

esophageal or reticular groove

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What do you know about the development of the rumen microbiome?

A

at birth, the rumen is sterile, and is partially developed by 4-6 weeks

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

The rumen is covered with ______ that help increase _______

A

papillae, surface area

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

the appearance of the papillae can change based on….

A

diet and season

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is distinct about the appearance of the reticulum?

A

it has a honeycomb pattern

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is the function of the reticulum?

A
  1. site of microbial action and absorption of VFAs
  2. the pacemaker for rumen contractions
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

the reticulum is where ____ can occur

A

rumination

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is rumination?

A

regurgitation, remastication, resalivation, and reglutition (reswallowing)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is the appearance of the omasum?

A

long, pagelike lamina

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is the function of the omasum

A

the function is unclear - however some water and VFA absorption occurs, and some mechanical digestion occurs

it regulates particle size flowing from the abomasum to the SI

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

what are the secretions of the abomasum?

A

pepsin, HCl, and mucin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

postgastric fermentation occurs in the ____

A

cecum and colon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

5-15% of cellulytic digestion occurs ______

A

in the cecum and colon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What do you know about the ruminant large intestine?

A

any microbial protein made here is lost in feces, but VFAs can be absorbed through the large intestine

water is also absorbed here

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Why is the rumen an ideal place for microbial growth? (9)

A
  1. warmth (101-105 degrees)
  2. moisture
  3. continuous inflow of nutrients via animal eating
  4. pH controlled (via saliva)
  5. no exposure to light
  6. mixing via digestive turbulence
  7. oxygen free (anaerobic environment)
  8. all end products are removed (absorbed or passed) preventing waste buildup
  9. small particle size due to rumination
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

the microorganisms and the rumen and the ruminant live in ______

A

symbiosis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Bacteria of the rumen

A
  1. digest cellulose, starch and proteins
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

protozoa of the rumen

A

prey on bacteria, 35 species

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

yeast of the rumen

A

not a large amount, aid in cellulose digestion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

in the rumen, starches and fibers are turned into ____

34
Q

in the rumen, proteins are turned into….

A

amino acids, then NH3, then microbial protein

35
Q

in the rumen, unsaturated fats are fermented into _____

A

saturated fats

36
Q

What are the six end products of fermentation

A
  1. VFAs
  2. microbial protein
  3. ammonia
  4. gas (methane and CO2)
  5. heat
  6. lipid alterations
37
Q

What are the three VFAs?

A
  1. acetate (2 carbons)
  2. proprionate (3 carbons)
  3. butyrate (4 carbons)

remember APB

38
Q

What is the primary site of VFA absorption?

39
Q

What is one side effect of a concentrate diet?

A

rumen acidosis - decimation of microbiome due to pH changes

40
Q

concentrate diets produce

A

100-120 mmol/L of VFAs (more than forage)
5.5-6.0 pH (more acidic than forage)

41
Q

forage diets produce

A

60-80 mmol/L of VFAs (less than concentrate)
6.5-7.0 pH (more basic than concentrate)

42
Q

What is the ratio of VFAs on a forage diet?

A

65% acetate
20% proprionate
12% butyrate

an acetate:proprionate ratio of 3.5:1

43
Q

What is the ratio of VFAs on a concentrate diet?

A

45% acetate
35% proprionate
15% butyrate

an acetate:proprionate ratio of 2:1 or less

44
Q

The VFA ratio can be altered by…

A

feeding ionophores (increases daily gain, efficiency and fertility) - works by shifting microbiome to organisms that make proprionate

most common brands rumensin and lasalocid

45
Q

increasing the percentage of proprionate produced by a ruminant….

A

increases average daily gain, increases feed efficiency, and increases fertility

46
Q

What happens to proteins in the rumen?

A

proteins are either fermented or escape the rumen

47
Q

This compound can be utilized by bacteria to produce microbial protein

A

urea/ammonia

48
Q

What are the components that protein can be broken into in the rumen?

A
  1. urea (MCO protein)
  2. carbon skeleton (VFAs)
49
Q

What happens to excess ammonia in the rumen?

A

NH3 leaves the rumen and is recycled (as a buffer)

50
Q

Cattle can get _____% of their crude protein from microbes

51
Q

Which other important nutrients are synthesized by microbes in the rumen?

A
  1. B vitamins
  2. Vitamin K
  3. essential fatty acids (ruminants do not require fatty acids)
52
Q

Excess NH3 is often lost in the ______

53
Q

Why are ruminants energetically inefficient compared to monogastrics?

A

gases produced from fermentation cause some energy to be lost

54
Q

What happens to lipids in the rumen?

A

microbes saturate unsaturated fatty acids

55
Q

Why is excess fat bad for ruminants?

A

Ruminants must have >10% fat in their diet because excess fat decreases fiber digestion - it coats the feed and hinders microbial attachment and degradation of cellulose

56
Q

fats are _____ times more energy dense than other macors

57
Q

Ruminantion is the set of steps that _____ digesta for passage to the lower digestive tract

58
Q

regurgitation

A

bolus is moved by reverse contraction of the esophagus from rumen to mouth

59
Q

remastication

A

reduction of particle size via mechanical digestion

60
Q

resalivation is important because..

A

saliva acts as a buffer in the rumen, and nitrogen can be recycled here

61
Q

reglutition

A

reswallowing the remasticated food

62
Q

eructition

A

the process of removing gas from the rumen

63
Q

Which 4 gases are produced via fermentation in the rumen?

A
  1. H2
  2. CO2
  3. CH4 (methane)
  4. H2S (hydrogen sulfide)
64
Q

As the rumen contracts, gases are forced ____

A

backwards, then forwards and out the esophagus

65
Q

Bloat is often caused by ______

A

an inability to eructate

66
Q

What inhibits eructition in cattle, causing bloat?

A

froth or foam in the rumen

67
Q

What are the symptoms of bloat in cattle

A
  1. distension of left (rumen) side
68
Q

What is the cause of bloat in cattle

A
  1. consumption of very rich food very fast (barn door open)
  2. legumes (high in soluble protein)
69
Q

How can bloat be treated? (3)

A
  1. trochar
  2. ionophores
  3. poloxaline (bloat guard)
70
Q

excess H2 in the rumen can _____

A

inhibit the fermentation process

71
Q

methanogen

A

anaerobic archaea that create methane from CO2 and H2 - thus limiting H2 in the rumen

72
Q

Most excess gases in the cow are _____ out

A

burped (eructated)

73
Q

How long does CH4 live in the atmosphere?

74
Q

The most common form of rumen acidosis is called

A

lactic acidosis

75
Q

What is the most common cause of rumen acidosis?

A

High amounts of concentrate in the diet

76
Q

Why does rumen acidosis occur (5)

A
  1. rapid increase in grain in diet
  2. rapid change from forage to concentrate
  3. barn door left open situations (cows get into rich food)
  4. grazing residue crop (high value leftovers are preferred by cattle, causing acidosis)
  5. improper ration balancing and/or management
77
Q

What might cause a large increase in lactic acid producing bacteria in a ruminant?

A

increased starches in the diet (CHO)
decreased pH causes microbiome imbalance, allowing one kind of bacteria to colonize

78
Q

Symptoms of rumen acidosis

A
  1. lashing tail
  2. DRHA
  3. decrease of intake (off feed)
  4. abdominal pain
  5. dehydration
  6. laminitis
79
Q

What physiological changes might happen due to rumen acidosis (3)

A
  1. lowered blood pH
  2. keratinization of rumen wall
  3. influx of water into rumen, dehydration and damage to rumen wall due to osmotic imbalance
80
Q

How to prevent rumen acidosis?

A
  1. have adequate roughage in the diet
  2. change animals to new diets slowly
  3. feed buffer
  4. use antibiotics (also prevents liver abcesses)

Animal Nutrition Exam 3 (5 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions