RUMINANT DIGESTIVE SYSTEM Finally Ruminant Anatomy o Mouth

RUMINANT DIGESTIVE SYSTEM Finally!

Ruminant Anatomy o Mouth n No upper incisors o o n n Has a upper dental pad and lower inscors only Dental pad, lower incisors, lip and tongue work together in the prehension of feedstuffs Mouth moves laterally only to shred the tough plant fibers Animal can only chew on one side of it’s mouth

Mouth

Ruminant Anatomy o Mouth n Saliva o o 12 -15 gallons produced per day No enzyme action Highly buffered…. helps maintain rumen p. H Provides a constant source of Nitrogen Phosphorus and Sodium which are used by the rumen microbes.

Ruminant Anatomy o ESOPHAGUS n n Long hollow, very muscular tube Peristalic contractions go both ways! o o n Food moves from mouth to stomach Food moves from stomach to mouth Esophageal (Reticular) Groove o o o Two heavy muscular folds or lips In young animals, it prevents milk from entering the rumen. Serves no function in non-suckling animals

Ruminant Anatomy o Stomach n Four compartments o RETICULUM n o RUMEN n o Paunch OMASUM n o Honeycomb Many Plies ABOMASUM n True or glandular stomach

RUMINANT STOMACH o RETICULUM n n n Walls are lined with mucous membranes containing many ridges that intersect This creates honeycomb-like compartments These compartments trap hardware such as nails, wire etc.

RETICULUM

RUMINANT STOMACH o RETICULUM n n No Enzymes are secreted Moves ingested feed into… o o o Rumen Omasum Espohagus for regurgitation

RUMINANT STOMACH o RUMEN n n n Large, hollow and muscular compartment Extends from the diaphragm to the pelvis on the left side of the animal. Papillae o o Tongue like projections Secrete enzymes in the rumen

RUMEN

RUMINANT STOMACH o RUMEN n Functions o o Storage Soaking Physical mixing and breakdown of feedstuffs Fermentation chamber n IDEAL ENVIRONMENT FOR BACTERIA AND PROTOZOA MICROBES!

RUMINANT STOMACH o RUMEN n EVERYTHING A BUG WOULD WANT! o o o n Moist Warm Desirable p. H Provides regular supply of fresh food Provides regular elimination of wastes HOME SWEET HOME! o To about 25 to 50 billion bacteria per milliliter of fluid!!!

RUMINANT STOMACH o OMASUM n n n Spherical organ Filled with muschular laminae studded with short, blunt pappilae Secretes no enzymes Located to the right of the rumen and reticulum Function o o To reduce particle size before entering the abomasum Absorption of water

OMASUM

RUMINANT STOMACH o ABOMASUM n n TRUE or GLANDULAR stomach Has glands in the stomach walls that secrete o o n Enzymes Hydrochloric Acid Corresponds with the non-ruminant stomach

RUMINANT DIGESTIVE SYSTEM o SMALL INTESTINE n Duodenum o o Brunners glands Carbohydrate enzymes n n n Maltase Lactase Aminopeitdase Dipeptidase Jejunum Illeum

RUMINANT DIGESTIVE SYSTEM o LARGE INTESTINE n n n Cecum Colon Rectum

RUMINANT DIGESTIVE SYSTEM o ACCESSORY ORGANS n n Liver o Bile o Gallbladder Pancrease o Lipase o Amylase o Nuclease o Trypsin o Chymotrypsin o Procarboxypeptidase

RUMINATION o o Permits an animal to forage and ingest food rapidly… but complete chewing at a later time. Steps include n n Regurgitation Remasitcation Resalivation Reswallowing

RUMINATION o Regurgitation n n Contraction of the reticulum reverses the peristalic wave of the esophagus Forces material to move up the esophagus to the mouth Only roughages will be regurgitated, hardly any concentrates Cattle average 8 hours a day!

ERUCTACATION o o Belching of gas Result of Microbial Fermentation = GAS n n Carbon Dioxide Methane

ERUCTACATION o o o Contractions of rumen occur every 1 to 3 minutes This forces gas to the top of the rumen The esophagus then dialates and allows gases to escape