Ruminant Digestive System Flashcards
Saliva is used as a buffer to?
Maintain rumen pH
The esophagus opens up into what compartments?
Rumen and reticulum compartments
The esophagus opens up into what compartment after 6-8 weeks of age?
The rumen compartment
The esophagus opens up into what compartment before 6-8 Weeks of age?
The reticulum compartment
What 4 compartments does the stomach divide into?
- Rumen
- Reticulum
- Omasum
- Abomasum
How big is the rumen?
It almost fills the entire left side of the abdominal cavity?
Ruminants do what to the bolus (cud) and chew undigested food?
Regurgitate
What are the ruminants called until theyre about 6-8 weeks of age?
Functional monogastrics
Why are ruminants called functional monogastrics before they reach 6-8 weeks of age?
Their rumens are not fully developed yet
The rumen is what at birth?
very underdeveloped
What is the reticulum commonly known as?
The honeycomb or hardware store because it traps nails, wire, and metal to protect the rumen from puncture
What does the reticulum do in young calves?
It helps move ingesta into the omasum
Are enzymes secreted in the reticulum?
No
**How does food pass through the digestive system in young calves?
- Food passes through the esophagus and into the esophageal groove
- It then goes into the reticulum bypassing the rumen because it is not fully developed
**When does the esophageal groove close?
6-8 weeks of age
The esophageal groove moves ingesta directly from the what into the what in young calves?
- Reticulum
- Omasum
Mature rumen walls contain what to propel feed?
Papillae
The rumen has no what, but is has micro flora action?
Enzyme secretions
The rumen has no enzyme secretions, but it does have what?
micro flora action
What type of compartment is the rumen?
A large, hollow, muscular compartment
What are the functions of the rumen?
- It stores ingested food
- It soaks ingesta
- It physically mixed and breaks down ingesta
- Its the fermentation chamber
What two things are needed in the fermentation chamber?
- Bacteria
- Protozoa
The omasum has short and blunt what?
Papillae
What is the function of the omasum?
It reduces particle size of ingesta and H2O absorption
You need bacteria and Protozoa in the fermentation chamber. True or False
True, they work together
Anaerobic fermentation results in?
- Synthesis of H2O soluble vitamins and Vitamin K
- Synthesis of amino acids and protien
- Bacterial enzymes breakdown fibrous feeds CHO (carbs) and VFA (volatile fatty acids)
Ruminants take CHO and bacteria/protozoa and turn them into what?
Volatile fatty acids during fermentation process, then enzymes turn the VFA’s into glucose, which is turned into energy
Are the enzymes secreted in the omasum?
No
Are enzymes secreted in the abomasum?
Yes
What is the abomasum comparable to?
The simple stomach in monogastrics
What is the ONLY place enzymes are secreted in the ruminant digestive system?
The abomasum
After the abomasum, how does the ruminant digestive system work?
Just like the monogastric system
What are some ruminant animals?
Cattle, sheep, goats
Ruminants have no what?
Upper incisors
Ruminants use what type of jaw movement to shred fibrous feeds?
Lateral
Ruminants have what saliva production?
Continuous
How much saliva does an adult cow and sheep produce daily?
Cow: 12gal/day
Sheep: 2gal/day
Continuous saliva production is necessary in ruminants for?
Bacterial action on feed
Ruminant saliva has no what?
enzymes
Ruminant animals eat forages how fast?
Rapidly
What is the structure where bacteria and protozoa thrive to ferment and breakdown roughages to obtain nutrients?
Rumen
What do the microorganisms do in the rumen?
Digest cellulose and synthesize amino acids from nonprotein nitrogen
What is the “true stomach” in a ruminant?
The abomasum because it corresponds with the stomach of a monogastric
Where does pre-digestive fermentation of feed occur?
In the rumen and reticulum
What happens when feed passes through the abomasum?
Strong acids destroy the bacteria and protozoa
What are volatile fatty acids?
Waste products of microbial fermentation carbohydrates that are produced during rumen fermentation
What do animals use volatile fatty acids for?
Their major energy source
When milk enters the mouth in a calf, where does it go?
Into the esophagus, then through the esophageal groove, then into the abomasum
If young calves are forced to consume forage, what happens?
Their rumens will develop quicker
What Enzyme do ruminants not secrete?
Salivary amylase
