Ruminant Digestive System

Question 1

What animals have ruminant digestive systems?

Answer 1

Sheep
Cattle 
Goats 
Deer 
Giraffes 
Zebras

Question 2

The 4 complex stomach structures in ruminants are:

Answer 2

Rumen
Reticulum
Omasum
Abomasum

Question 3

1st part of the ruminant system

actions

Answer 3

Mouth - teeth and lips hold food and chew

saliva moistens food

Question 4

2nd part of the ruminant system and actions

Answer 4

Esophagus - through which food goes to the stomach

Question 5

3rd part of the ruminant system

Answer 5

Rumen - 1st compartment of the stomach

Question 6

Function of the Rumen

Answer 6

large fermentation vat with bacteria, protozoa, and certain fungi to break down roughages

Question 7

Rumen capacity in cows and sheep

Answer 7

Cows - 40 gallons

Sheep - 5 gallons

Question 8

What does the Rumen digest and with what?

Answer 8

Uses micro- organisms

Digests cellulose, synthesizes amino acids, and B - complex vitamins

Question 9

How do you identify the Rumen?

Answer 9

Lined with carpet - like papillae

Question 10

4th part of the ruminant system

Answer 10

Reticulum - 2nd compartment of the stomach

Question 11

Reticulum’s function

Answer 11

Acts with Rumen in mixing activity and provides more storage for ferments, screens for foreign objects from digestive system

Question 12

How to identify the Reticulum?

Answer 12

Has small compartments that look like “honey comb”

Question 13

Reticulum’s capacity

Answer 13

Cow - 2 gallons

Sheep - 2 quarts

Question 14

5th part of the ruminant digestive system

Answer 14

Omasum - 3rd compartment of the stomach

Question 15

Omasum’s function

Answer 15

Aids in grinding action of food, moves 60-70% of water before abomasum

Question 16

Omasum’s nickname

Answer 16

Manyplies

Question 17

How to identify the Omasum

Answer 17

Round and muscular with many folds

Question 18

Omasum’s capacity

Answer 18

Cow - 4 gallons

Sheep - 1 quart

Question 19

6th part of the ruminant digestive system

Answer 19

Abomasum - 4th compartment of stomach

Question 20

Abomasum’s function and uses what

Answer 20

Where most digestion takes place - contents very liquid
has digestive enzymes: pepsin, rennin, bile
breaks down proteins and adds moisture

Question 21

Abomasum’s capacity

Answer 21

Cow - 4 gallons

Sheep - 3 quarts

Question 22

7th part of the ruminant digestive system

Answer 22

Small intestine

Question 23

How to identify the Small Intestine

Answer 23

Small in diameter, long in length

Question 24

Function of the Small Intestine

Answer 24

Splits food into molecules and absorbs nutrients

Question 25

Capacity of the Small Intestine

Answer 25

Cow 15 gallons; 130 feet

Sheep 2 gallons; 80 feet

Question 26

8th part of the ruminant digestive system

Answer 26

Large Intestine

Question 27

How to identify the Large Intestine

Answer 27

Large in diameter, small in length

Question 28

Function of the Large Intestine

Answer 28

Absorbs water and forms indigestible wastes to solids - prepared for excretion

Question 29

Capacity of the Large Intestine

Answer 29

Cow 10 gallons

Sheep 6 quarts

Question 30

How do ruminants eat?

Answer 30

They eat fast and then regurgitate feed (cud) -done many times

Question 31

Salivary glands functions

Answer 31

Secrete saliva, moistens food and mixes with food material to aid in swallowing

Question 32

Pharynx

Answer 32

Funnels food into esophagus, preventing food materia from entering lungs