List the four compartments of the ruminant stomach and explain ...

[jparksx]

List the four compartments of the ruminant stomach and explain the function of each.

Question 2

What is the difference between the digestive system of a ruminant and a nonruminant animal?

[tdewitt]

Answer to Question 1

(a) The rumen is the largest compartment and makes up about 80 percent of the total capacity of the
stomach. The rumen is where the bacteria and microorganisms act on the food material and where
digestion takes place.
(b) The reticulum is closely associated with the rumen. The reticulum works with the rumen in formation of
the cud for regurgitation. Foreign bodies, such as nails or pieces of wire, can be held in the reticulum for
long periods without causing serious injury.
(c) The omasum removes large amounts of water from the food as it moves from the rumen to the abomasum.
(d) The abomasum functions very similarly to the stomach of single-stomached animals.

Answer to Question 2

Ruminant animals differ from nonruminants in several ways:
(a) The ruminant stomach consists of four compartments.
(b) Food material in the ruminant system is acted on by millions of bacteria and microorganisms.
(c) These bacteria and microorganisms transform low-quality protein and some nitrogen compounds into
essential amino acids.
(d) The bacteria and microorganisms also aid in the manufacture of needed vitamins, including the
B-complex group.
(e) Food material not fully digested in the rumen can be regurgitated in the form of cud. The animal chews
on this cud and then swallows it back down into the rumen for further digestion.
(f) The ruminant digestive system can utilize large amounts of roughage.