1. Cows, Sheep, Goats, and Deer
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 system13 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. Comparing Digestive Systems
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

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