Digestive Processes in Ruminants

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to the digestive processes in ruminants.

Rumen

The largest stomach compartment in ruminants where microbial fermentation of food occurs.

Omasum

The third compartment of the ruminant stomach that absorbs water and nutrients from the ingested food.

Abomasum

The true stomach of ruminants where the chemical breakdown of food occurs, similar to human stomach function.

Reticulum

The second compartment of the ruminant stomach, which helps in the initial digestion process and trapping foreign objects.

Rumination

The process of regurgitating food from the rumen to the mouth for further chewing and digestion.

Volatile Fatty Acids (VFAs)

Fatty acids produced by microbes in the rumen that provide energy to ruminants.

Eruptation

The process of expelling gas from the rumen, which is essential for preventing bloat.

Microbes

Microorganisms that assist in breaking down cellulose in the ruminant stomach.

Hydrochloric Acid

A stomach acid that aids in the digestion of food within the abomasum.

Pepsinogen

An enzyme precursor that gets activated in the stomach to digest proteins.