Digestive System of Ruminant Animal
Rumination
Ruminants swallow the food without chewing.
After feeding, they bring food from the stomach back into the mouth and chew it
leisurely. This process is called rumination and such animals are called
ruminants. Rumination is also called second chewing.
Parts of digestive system of Ruminants
1.
Mouth:
2.
Esophagus:
Transport food from mouth to stomach.
3.
Rumen (Towel like Structure):
It is the first and the largest compartment
of the stomach and have very great role in ruminant digestion. It lies in the
left side of the abdomen. It comprises about 80% of the stomach. In this part
of stomach, fermentation of food particles take places with the help of
microbes. So, it is known as fermentation vat. Volatile fatty acid is main
product of ruminant digestion.
4.
Reticulum (Honey comb):
It is the 2nd compartment of the
stomach. It comprises about 5% of the stomach. It is honey comb shaped and lies
just opposite to heart. It traps foreign object like nails, wires etc.
5.
Omasum(Many plies):
It is the 3rd chamber of the
stomach. It comprises about 10% of the stomach. The omasum acts as a filter to
absorb water and nutrient from what has not been digested yet.
6.
Abomasum(True Stomach):
It is the fourth compartment of the stomach.
It comprises about 5% of the stomach. It is also called as true stomach as it
secrets gastric juices, hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes that break the
food particles.
7.
Small-Intestine:
Composed of duodenum, jejunum and illeum.
It helps in digestion and nutrient absorption.
8.
Caeca:
Bacterial action in the caeca
helps breakdown undigested food passing through the intestine.
9.
Large Intestine:
Helps in water absorption and eliminate waste products.
Function of digestive system
❖ Ingestion
of food particles
❖ Digestion
of food particles by mechanical and chemical digestion.
❖ Absorption
of nutrient from the digested food particles.
❖ Elimination/excretion
of waste products from body.