Transcript The Ruminant Digestive System

You are what you eat!
• Herbivores – vegetarians like
cattle, sheep, goats and rabbits
• Carnivores – flesh eaters like
dogs, cats
• Omnivores – eat meat and
plants like humans, pigs,
chickens
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Consumer Skull & Teeth
Comparisons
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Carnivores
• Carnivores have
pointed canines and
incisors for obtaining
and tearing flesh.
Sharp molars and
premolars are
essential for tearing
flesh. Eyes usually
point forward for
keen vision in
sighting prey.
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Herbivores
• Herbivores have
teeth adapted to
biting off plant
material and
grinding food into
smaller pieces.
Eyes are usually
on the side of
head to spot and
avoid predators.
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Omnivores
• Omnivores have
teeth adapted
for eating a
variety of foods.
Eyes usually
point forward.
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The Ruminant
Digestive System
Rectum
Small intestine
Cecum
Rumen
Esophagus
Reticulum
Colon
Omasum
Abomasum
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Ruminant Digestion
• Ruminants eat rapidly and do not chew their food completely
before swallowing. Solid parts go to the rumen. In the
rumen, feed is mixed and partially broken down by bacteria.
When the rumen is full, the animal lies down to regurgitate
and rechew the feed. This is called rumination - chewing
the cud.
 5-7 hours each day are spent in rumination.
 Bacteria and microbes in the rumen allow the animal to
consume large quantities of roughage (hay, grass, and silage).
 These bacteria change low-quality protein into amino acids
which are essential for growth and maintenance of cells.
 The digestion by microbes in the rumen produces large
amounts of methane and carbon dioxide. If these gases
form faster than the animal can eliminate them, bloating
occurs.
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Ruminant Digestion
•
From the rumen, the liquid parts go to the reticulum (honeycomb attached to the rumen), then to the omasum (manyplies), and on to
the abomasum (the true stomach).
 The reticulum breaks feed into smaller particles, adds saliva and water to
aid in digestion. Any foreign objects such as wire or nails are held here.
 The omasum grinds feed and may squeeze some water out.
 The abomasum is called the true stomach. Feed is mixed with gastric
juices and digestion is carried out like in non-ruminants.

Small intestine - digestion continues here; majority of the absorption of
nutrients occurs in the small intestine
 Pancreas - Gland which secretes digestive juices into the small intestine for
digestion of carbohydrates, proteins and fats
 Liver - secretes bile into the small intestine to help digest fats
 Gall bladder - temporary storage of bile from the liver
 Cecum - (blind gut) little function

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Large intestine - absorbs water; site of some digestion by bacteria; adds
lubricant to ease transportation of material through tract
Anus - area where undigested food is removed from the body
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The Non-Ruminant
Digestive System
Rectum
Colon
Stomach
Esophagus
Small intestine
Cecum
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Non-Ruminant/
Monogastric Digestion
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Mouth and teeth - breakdown of food through grinding and
chemicals (saliva)
Esophagus - passes food from the mouth to the stomach
Stomach - breaks down food through chemical action and allows
some absorption of small particles
Small intestine - more digestive juices (chemicals) added; most
absorption of food into blood occurs here
 Pancreas - gland which secretes juices to digest carbohydrates, fats and
proteins into the small intestines
 Liver - secretes bile into the small intestine to help digest fats
 Gall bladder - temporary storage of bile from the liver
 Cecum - little function



Large intestine - absorbs water out of the food; also adds a lubricant
to make passage through the tract easier
Rectum - connects the large intestine to the anus
Anus - opening where undigested food is passed out of the body
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The Cecal Fermenter
Digestive System
Rectum
Small intestine
Esophagus
Stomach
Cecum
Colon
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Cecal Fermenter Digestion
Mouth - grasping food; physical and chemical breakdown of food
(chewing or grinding and saliva)
 Esophagus - moves food and liquid from the mouth to the stomach
 Stomach - digestion of proteins and fats due to digestive juices
 Small intestine - digestion of proteins, fats and starch due to juices;
absorption of many nutrients.

Pancreas - secretes juices to aid in digestion of fats
 Liver - direct secretion of bile to aid in the digestion of fats
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
Large intestine - made up of the following parts
Cecum - microorganism (bacterial) digestion of fiber
 Large colon - some bacteria for digestion of cellulose, making B-vitamins
and amino acids (part of proteins); absorbs some fatty acids
 Small colon - absorbs water; site of formation of characteristic balls of
feces (undigested material which is expelled from the animal)

Rectum - connects the large intestine to the anus
 Anus - opening where undigested material passes out of the body

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The Digestive Process
Mechanical digestion – begins in the mouth where food
is chewed and broken down into smaller pieces
Peristalsis – a muscular contraction that causes
food to move through the digestive tract
Chemical digestion – enzymes and acids
reduce food particle size and change particles
into forms that can be used by the animal
Absorption – nutrients are absorbed into
the blood stream through the intestinal villi
Metabolism – nutrients are removed
from the bloodstream and used by the
body organs for things like bone and
hair growth, maintaining body
temperature, etc.
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Nutrient Functions
• Protein
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Development and repair of body organs and tissues.
Production of wool, milk,eggs.
Fetal development.
Production of hormones and enzymes.
Antibody development.
Transmission of DNA.
• Carbohydrates
– Support bodily functions such as breathing,
digestion, and exercise.
– Help maintain body temperature.
– Store fat.
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Nutrient Functions
• Lipids (fats)
–
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Enhance palatability and caloric value of feed.
Provide energy.
Provide fatty acids for healthy skin and coat.
Aid in absorption of fat soluble vitamins.
Help maintain body temperature.
Provide essential materials for hormone secretion.
• Water
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Support biochemical reactions (respiration, digestion, etc.)
Transport of nutrients.
Help maintain body temperature.
Helps give the body its form.
Carries waste form the body.
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Major Nutrients’
Functions cont.
• Vitamins
– Regulate digestion, absorption, metabolism, gland
activity, and cell formation.
– Necessary for normal vision.
– Fights diseases.
– Develop a healthy nervous system.
• Minerals
– Furnish structural material for teeth and bones.
– Aid in building body tissue, digestion, muscle
activity, and transmission of messages through the
nervous system.
– Part of hormones.
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Marketing Concepts
• Nutritional value – markets food based on specific
nutritional content of the food.
• All purpose – based on the concept that one food is
adequate for all stages of the pet’s life.
• Price – uses “low price” concept or “more for your
money”. Price can be very misleading.
• Palatability – markets based on how the food tastes
to the pet
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Cost per Feeding
Analysis
• Determines cost per day and per year
• Compares pet foods for economical value
(which one gives you more for your money)
–
The most economical pet food may be the
more expensive one!
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What is Dry Matter
• Dry matter = nutrient content of a food after all
water has been removed
• When comparing a wet food to a dry food is
necessary to first determine the dry matter content.
This gives a more accurate nutritional comparison.
• Dry matter = 100% - moisture
– Ex: A canned food with 70% moisture has 30% dry matter
100% - 70% = 30% dry matter
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Calculating MER
Maintenance Energy Requirements
• MER = Maintenance Energy Requirements
• MER is the amount of energy needed by an
animal to keep it in good health. It varies
with age, activity level, production,
reproduction, and environmental conditions.
• MER is measured in kilocalories per day
(Kcal/day)
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