Ruminant Digestive System Flashcards
What animals have ruminant digestive systems?
Sheep Cattle Goats Deer Giraffes Zebras
The 4 complex stomach structures in ruminants are:
Rumen
Reticulum
Omasum
Abomasum
1st part of the ruminant system
actions
Mouth - teeth and lips hold food and chew
saliva moistens food
2nd part of the ruminant system and actions
Esophagus - through which food goes to the stomach
3rd part of the ruminant system
Rumen - 1st compartment of the stomach
Function of the Rumen
large fermentation vat with bacteria, protozoa, and certain fungi to break down roughages
Rumen capacity in cows and sheep
Cows - 40 gallons
Sheep - 5 gallons
What does the Rumen digest and with what?
Uses micro- organisms
Digests cellulose, synthesizes amino acids, and B - complex vitamins
How do you identify the Rumen?
Lined with carpet - like papillae
4th part of the ruminant system
Reticulum - 2nd compartment of the stomach
Reticulum’s function
Acts with Rumen in mixing activity and provides more storage for ferments, screens for foreign objects from digestive system
How to identify the Reticulum?
Has small compartments that look like “honey comb”
Reticulum’s capacity
Cow - 2 gallons
Sheep - 2 quarts
5th part of the ruminant digestive system
Omasum - 3rd compartment of the stomach
Omasum’s function
Aids in grinding action of food, moves 60-70% of water before abomasum
Omasum’s nickname
Manyplies
How to identify the Omasum
Round and muscular with many folds
Omasum’s capacity
Cow - 4 gallons
Sheep - 1 quart
6th part of the ruminant digestive system
Abomasum - 4th compartment of stomach
Abomasum’s function and uses what
Where most digestion takes place - contents very liquid
has digestive enzymes: pepsin, rennin, bile
breaks down proteins and adds moisture
Abomasum’s capacity
Cow - 4 gallons
Sheep - 3 quarts
7th part of the ruminant digestive system
Small intestine
How to identify the Small Intestine
Small in diameter, long in length
Function of the Small Intestine
Splits food into molecules and absorbs nutrients
Capacity of the Small Intestine
Cow 15 gallons; 130 feet
Sheep 2 gallons; 80 feet
8th part of the ruminant digestive system
Large Intestine
How to identify the Large Intestine
Large in diameter, small in length
Function of the Large Intestine
Absorbs water and forms indigestible wastes to solids - prepared for excretion
Capacity of the Large Intestine
Cow 10 gallons
Sheep 6 quarts
How do ruminants eat?
They eat fast and then regurgitate feed (cud) -done many times
Salivary glands functions
Secrete saliva, moistens food and mixes with food material to aid in swallowing
Pharynx
Funnels food into esophagus, preventing food materia from entering lungs
