Created by: Arlene Barrett, Dennis Bratton, Mariah Gumphry, Haley Vrazel

The Ruminant Digestive System(Day 3)

Objectives Compare the last two

components of ruminant animals.Analyze the importance of small

and large intestines for ruminant animals.

Ruminant Digestive SystemsOmasum - section that is round and

muscular.“Grinds” the food material and prepares the food material for chemical breakdown.

Has many folds in its lining, often said to look like the pages of a book

Reduces particle size of digesta even further

Some absorption starts to take place here

Omasum - full

Ruminant Digestive SystemsAbomasum - very similar to the stomach

of non-ruminants.this is where the majority of chemical breakdown of food material occurs.

The “true stomach” of the ruminant animalEnzyme secretion takes place hereActs like a monogastric stomachProduces HCl, Pepsinogen/pepsin for

digestionAlso produces lipase in early stages of life

Also produces mucus for protection

Abomasum – inside view

Ruminant Digestive Systems

Small Intestine - where most of the food material is absorbed into the bloodstreamContains three sections:

duodenumjejunumileum

Ruminant Digestive Systems

The food material is continually squeezed as it is moved through the small intestine, becoming more solid.

The majority of the food material absorption occurs in the duodenum and the jejunum.

Ruminant Digestive Systems

Large Intestine - begins to prepare unused food material for removal from the bodya portion of the large intestine in some animals contain pouches that may contain enzymes for further species-specific digestion (horses and rabbits (cecum)).

Ruminant Digestive Systems

Colon - collects the unused food material that is to be removed from the body

Rectum - “poop chute”Anus - opening through which the waste is removed.Controlled by sphincter muscles, that also help protect the opening.

Review Compare the last two

components of ruminant animals.Analyze the importance of small

and large intestines for ruminant animals.

ReourcesResources: Rakowitz-McMillian Sam

Houston State University Animal Science Note Packet