The Ruminant Digestive System
(Day 2)
Created by: Arlene Barrett, Dennis Bratton, Mariah Gumphry, Haley Vrazel
Objectives Define the functions of ruminant animals.Analyze ruminant digestive system. Analyze the first two components of the
digestive system of ruminant animals.
Ruminant Digestive SystemsFunctions of the digestive system
of animals include:ingestion (eating)chewing (mastication)swallowing (deglutition)absorption of nutrientselimination of solid wastes (defecation)
Ruminant Digestive SystemsThe digestive system changes food nutrients into compounds that are easily absorbed into the bloodstream.
Ruminant Digestive SystemsRuminants are those animals that
contain a multi-chambered digestive system (polygastric) that allows the animal to gain the majority of their nutritional needs from forages and other roughages.cattle, sheep/goats, deer and elk
Forage refers to grasses, roughages refers to other high-fiber food sources.
Ruminant Digestive SystemsThe digestive tract extends from
the lips to the anus. It includes the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, and the small and large intestines.
Accessory glands include the salivary glands, the liver, and the pancreas.
Ruminant Digestive Systems
Picture of digestive system of cow
Rectum
Anus
Colon
Cecum
Small IntestineRumen
Kidney
Pancreas
Liver Esophagus
Pharynx
Teeth
Tongue
Salivary Gland
Reticulum
Omasum
Abomasum
Ruminant Digestive SystemsThe digestive system of ruminant animals
includes the:Mouth - grasps the foodTeeth - grind the food
Ruminants have only one set of teeth in the front of the mouth (incisors), and two sets in the back (molars).
Tongue - covered with finger-like projections (papillae) that contain taste buds.
Salivary glands - secrete saliva, that moistens food and is mixed with the food material to aid in swallowing.
Ruminant Digestive SystemsPharynx - funnels food into the esophagus, preventing food material from entering the lungs.
Esophagus - food tube that leads from the mouth to the stomach.
Ruminant Stomach
Compartment Capacity
11
Reticulum 5% of capacity
Rumen 80% of capacity
Omasum 7% of capacity
Abomasum 8% of capacity
Ruminant Digestive SystemsAt this point, ruminant animals have a multi-chambered “stomach”Reticulum - honeycomb-like interior surface, this part
helps to remove foreign matter from the food material.Esophagus empties here
Prone to hardware diseaseCattle swallow small pieces of metalCan irritate or pierce the lining Helped by putting a small magnet into the reticulum
Holding area for food; also site of regurgitation
Reticulum - cleaned
Ruminant Digestive SystemsRuminant animals grasp mouthfuls of food
and swallow it before it is chewed.They wrap their tongue around a mouthful of grass, clamp down their teeth, and pull to break the grass at its weakest point, and swallow.
Ruminants will “chew their cud” (regurgitate) their food material and then grind it with their molars at a time when the animal is resting.
This is done until the food particles are small enough to pass through the reticulum into the rumen.
Ruminant Digestive SystemsRumen - the organ that allows for bacterial
and chemical breakdown of fiber.The rumen has a very thick, muscular wallIt fills most of the left-side of the abdomen
Looks like carpet due to papillae lining itFermentation vat
Primary digestion site for ruminantsMicrobial digestion takes place hereBreakdown cellulose, simple sugars, and
Nitrogen containing compounds like proteinPhysical mixing and breakdownNot active in the early stages of life
Papillae in Rumen
Summary Define the functions of ruminant animals.Analyze ruminant digestive system. Analyze the first two components of the
digestive system of ruminant animals.
ResourcesResources: Rakowitz-McMillian Sam
Houston State Univeristy Animal Science Note Packet