Digestion Systems of Herbivores

Digestion (physiology)

the catabolic process in the digestive tract where ingested food is converted to simpler, soluble and diffusible substances that can be assimilated (absorbed) by the body

Digestion (microbiology)

The process of decomposing organic matter through microbial activity

The digestive system of animals is a musculo membranous tube from

mouth to butt

What are the three processes of digestion

Mechanical, Chemical, Microbial

Lips are immobile in

cattle and bison (roughage grazers)

lips are spilt and more mobile in

sheep

Cattle and Bison use _____ to grass and bolus formation

tongue around grass

Sheep/goats select _______ off plants

blossoms

Sheep/goats graze down to

<5 cm

Horses use their lips and teeth to

graze closer to the ground

Cattle adult bovine teeth

Upper molars, upper premolars, lower molars, lower premolars, incisors

What does lubricant do in the mouth

coats the oral mucosa enabling mechanical cleansing

what does Digestion do in the mouth

moisten food fro bolus formation for easy passage to esophagus

what does Antimicrobial do in the mouth

controls microorganisms in mouth and prevents dental plaque

What are the recycled nutrients in the mouth

urea, sulfate, Ca , Mg

What are the four compartments

Reticulum, Rumen, Omasum, Abomasum

What are the forgot fermentors

ruminants

what happens in the foregut

forage enters a large compartment and undergoes small amount of fermentation prior to entering the stomach and small intestine

As the bolus becomes more dense, a larger proportion goes to

hind component of rumen

The residence time of particles within the rumen is dependent on

their size, shape, and density

The biological environment of the rumen consist of

anaerobic protozoa, bacteria, archaea, and fungi

What is an advantage of the grassland system in digestion

the microflora

Protozoa contribute ____ of remuneration microbial biomass

50%

Protozoa aids in the stabilization of

rumen fermentation (pH)

Protozoa are highly ______

proteolytic

Protozoa contribute to ______

rumen ammonia production

Protozoa Ferments carbohydrates at _____ rate than bacteria

slower rater

Protozoa fermenting carbs results in a _____

more uniform, longer release of VFA

Bacteria is found in liquid attached to

feed and ramen epithelium

bacteria classification based on ______ preference

substrate

Bacteria is sensitive to

reductions in pH

Archara is __ of microbial population

2-4%

Archaea is present in

rumen fluid/solid

Archaea utilizes _ from other microbes

H2

Why does Archaea utilize H2

to reduce Co2 to CH4

Fungi is highly

cellulolytic

Fungi aids in

initial colonization and degradation of plant cell wall

Fungi is important for

fiber utilization and initial fiber degradation

Most fungi attack in _____ of stem and produce small fibres

center region

Volatile fatty acids (VFA)

products of rumen fermentation and animals energy source haw

what are the four types of VFA

Avetic, Propionic, Butyric, and Valeric acids

If ____ drops to low, protozoa die, and cellulotlyic bacteria die

pH

What is the healthy population of bacteria pH

6.8-7.85 in forage based diets