Ruminant Digestion Flashcards
When food leaves the mouth it travels down the esophagus by what action?
peristalsis
Name the first and largest compartment.
rumen
Name the compartment also known as the fermentation vat.
rumen
The rumen can hold how many gallons?
40-60 gallons
Name the two gases are produced in the rumen.
Methane, carbon dioxide
Bacteria, and protozoa are examples of what?
microorganisms
What purpose due the rumen bugs or microbes serve?
They break down the forages and grasses eaten by the dairy animal
Microbes provide 2/3 of what essential nutrient?
Protein
Rumen bugs are the reason ruminants can digest what?
Forages and grasses
What term describes the relationship between the microbes & the cow?
Symbiotic
What is symbiosis?
A relationship in which each organisms gains something
Name the compartment next to the rumen.
reticulum
Which compartment acts with the rumen to mix and store food?
reticulum
Which compartment is known as the honeycomb?
reticulum
The reticulum catches what so that it does not enter the omasum?
Large particles of feed
This compartment is known as the hardware stomach.
Reticulum
The compartment closest to the heart.
Reticulum
What does a farmer give cow to help prevent hardware disease?
Magnet
The third compartment of the digestive system is what?
Omasum
The omasum is also known as the what?
Manyplies
The term manyplies means what?
Many layers
Name the primary acid found in the abomasum.
Hydrochloric acid
What compartment is also known as the true stomach?
Abomasum
The abomasum is much like the human stomach because they both do what?
Secrete enzymes and acids
What compartment helps to move food along to the small intestine?
Abomasum
After the abomasum, more digestion occurs here.
Small intestine
This is where most of the nutrients are absorbed.
Small intestine
Name the small structures that line the wall of the small intestine.
villi
Feed material found in the small intestine is called what?
chyme
This organ absorbs all remaining water and stores waste.
Large intestine
Undigested food and waste is excreted here.
Anus
What two structural carbohydrates are broken down in the rumen?
Cellulose, hemicellulose
Rumen microbes break down cellulose and hemicellulose into what?
Volatile fatty acids
Name the 3 volatile fatty acids produces in the rumen.
Butyrate, proprionate, acetate
Name the small projections that line the rumen.
papillae
What is another word for burping?
eructation
Name the three parts of the small intestine.
Ileum, jejunum, duodenum
Name the energy source that is broken down in the small intestine of the dairy cow.
fats
What is the most concentrated energy source in dairy cattle rations?
fats
What energy source contains 2.25 times the energy value of starch?
fats
What is the recommended maximum level of fat in a lactating cow’s ration of dry matter.
5 to 7%
What is the first organ to receive blood from the small intestine?
liver
What organ secretes digestive enzymes into the small intestine?
pancreas
Name the 4 main processes for which a cow uses her feed.
Growth, reproduction, milk production, maintenance
Any chemical substance that provides nourishment to the body is called a what?
nutrient
Name the 5 major nutrients contained in feedstuffs.
Protein, vitamin, minerals, energy(fats & carbohydrates), water
What is most likely to be the limiting nutrient for the high producing dairy cow?
energy
What are the building blocks of fats and lipids?
Fatty acids
Name an animal fat used in dairy cattle rations.
tallow
Name a protected fat used in dairy cattle ration
calcium soaps
Name two kinds of whole oil seeds used in dairy cattle ration
whole cottonseeds, whole soybeans
List the three basic elements contained in carbohydrates.
Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen
What 2 structural carbohydrates (fiber carbohydrates) does the cow can use as a source of energy?
Cellulose, hemicellulose
What 3 nonstructural carbohydrates (non-fiber carbohydrates) are the highly digestible parts of feed?
Sugar, starch, pectin
Which volatile fatty acids is the primary source of energy and milkfat?
Acetic acid
Which volatile fatty acids is the precursor for glucose?
Proprionic acid
What is the major bufffer for maintaining optimum rumen pH?
saliva
How much saliva does the mature dairy cow produce each day?
50-80 quarts
Name 3 functions of saliva.
moistens food, lubricates food, acts as a buffer, provides a fluid base for nutrients, provides the proper environment for bacterial growth
How many teeth does a mature dairy cow have?
32 teeth, no upper front teeth
Chewing is also known as what?
mastication
Feed that a cow has regurgitated and is being re-chewed is called what?
cud
The process in ruminants when semi-liquid ingesta is regurgitated into the esophagus, re-chewed, and re-swallowed for further digestion is called what?
rumination
Name three types of organisms that live in the rumen.
bacteria, fungi, protozoa
What is the ideal rumen pH?
5.9 - 6.2
On the pH scale, what is neutral?
7
On the pH scale, would a low pH (1-6) be considered acidic or basic?
acidic
On the pH scale, would a high pH (8-14) be considered acidic or basic?
basic
If the pH of the rumen drops below 5.9, the rumen is considered what?
acidotic
