Ruminant Digestion

1. Ruminant Digestion Cows, Sheep, Goats, and Deer

2. Digestion • Digestion is the process of breaking down feed into simple substances that can be absorbed by the body. Absorption is the taking of the digested parts of the feed into the bloodstream. • The digestive system consists of the parts of the body involved in chewing and digesting feed. This system also moves the digested feed through the animal’s body and absorbs the products of digestion.

3. Stages of Digestion Elimination Ingestion Absorption Digestion

4. Types of Digestion 1. Monogastric – single stomach - in pigs, dogs, and humans 2. Ruminant – 4 chambered stomach - in sheep, cattle, goats and deer 3. Avian – birds 4. Pseudo-ruminant – single stomach plus caecum which digests grass by fermentation. Eg. horses, rabbits and rats.

5. Monogastric Digestion • Stomach is high in acid, and digestive enzymes

6. Ruminant Digestion • Digests grass, silage, hay, or balage. • 4 chambers: a) Rumen – fermentation by bacteria that are the source of protein b) Reticulum is a small pouch on the side of the rumen that traps foreign materials, such as wire, nails.

7. Omasum produces a grinding action on the feed and removes some of the water from the feed. Hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes are mixed with feed in the omasum.

8. Abomasum is the fourth compartment of the stomach. • The abomasum is also referred to as the true stomach because it is similar to the stomach in monogastric animals.

9. Small intestine • Digested food is absorbed into the blood system

10. Large Intestine • Water is absorbed into the blood system

11. Liver • Produces bile which digests fats • Regulates blood sugar • Heats the blood so animals are warm blooded • Removes toxins in the blood. Gall bladder

12. Gall bladder liver Pancreas

13. Functions of Parts of the Digestive System • Mouth – takes in food, teeth chew grass, lips hold in food, also allows young animal to suck on mother’s teat

14. pH in the digestive system 13 2 7 7 7 7

15. Neutralisation in Digestion • One of the function of the liver is to produce bile • Bile has two functions: 1. Contains enzymes which digests fats 2. Has a pH of 12 which neutralises the acid from the stomach

16. Monogastric One stomach Hydrochloric acid and enzymes digest food Only able to digest food that does’nt contain cellulose Feed on grains, meat, friuts, veges (not grass) Can take antibiotics orally Ruminant 4 stomachs Uses bacteria and fungi to ferment and digest food Can digest cellulose (fibre in grass) Feeds on grass, silage, grains, baleage Cannot take antibiotics orally except calves, lambs Comparing Digestive Systems

17. Excretory System • Kidneys remove salt, urea (toxin) excess sugar and water from the blood • Kidneys regulate water balance in the body • Urea, salts and excess water collect in the bladder and form urine

18. Lymphatic System • Lymph is a fluid that leaks out of the capillaries and is collected in a network of lymph capillaries. • These lymph capillaries are joined to lymph vessels connected to lymph nodes

19. Lymph Nodes • Collecting areas for lymph fluid. • Lymph nodes filter out dead cells, cell parts, and bacteria • Lymph system helps to fight disease using white blood cells. • Lymph nodes become enlarged when the body is infected