Ruminant digestion

Ruminant digestion

1. ruminant animal

   • stomach separated into 4 compartments/chambers

2. MOUTH

   • lower jaw molars
   • top jaw
     • hard dental pad
     • no teeth (cows)
     • sheep + deer- teeth at back of top jaw
   • saliva has high pH
   • no enzymes present

3. OESOPHAGUS

   • peristalsis
     • move food from mouth to rumen
   • reverse peristalsis
     • moves food reticulum back up to the mouth for rumination
   • no digestion
   • no absorption

4. RUMEN

   • lining has papillae
     • increase surface area
   • fermentation vat
     • not functional at birth
       • milk passes straight to omasum and abomasum
   • microbes
     • bacteria
     • protozoa
     • fungi
     • viruses
     • Archaea
     • break down fibrous food material
     • once role is done, they are used as protein source
   • volatile fatty acids
     • Acetic acid
     • Propionic acid
     • Butyric acid
     • used as energy source
       • monogastric's- use glucose as energy source
   • cellulose
     • volatile fatty acids
   • Anaerobic process
     • no oxygen present
     • fermentation
       • solid material slow to leave
   • lots of gas produced
     • methane gas
   • water travel through lining

5. RETICULUM

   • stones ingested fall into reticulum
   • food moves back up oesophagus fro rumination
   • lining is honeycomb structured
   • absorb VFA's

6. OMASUM

   • no enzymes secreted
   • absorbs
     • left over VFA's
     • magnesium
     • some water
   • reduces particle size
     • move food back to reticulo-rumen for digestion if needed
   • folds in lining
     • increase surface area for absorption

7. ABOMASUM

   • 'true stomach'
   • like monogatric stomach
   • secretes hydrochloric acid
   • secretes enzymes
     • pepsionogen
     • rennin
     • lipase
   • break down
     • proteins
     • fats
   • lining has folds
     • increases surface area

8. INTESTINES

   • SMALL
     • duodenum
     • Jejunum
     • Ileum
     • absorbs nutrients
     • enzyme secretions for further break downs
   • LARGE
     • absorb water
     • create faeces