Ruminants and Hogs

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to ruminants and hogs, including anatomy, digestion, diseases, management practices, and more.

Ruminants

Mammals that digest food in multiple stomachs, including cattle, sheep, and goats.

Rumen

The largest stomach compartment in ruminants, responsible for fermentation and breakdown of fibrous plant material.

Prehension

The act of taking in food without chewing, common in animals like cows which 'wolf down' their food.

Cud

Partially digested food that is regurgitated and chewed again by ruminants.

Reticulum

The second stomach of ruminants, known for its honeycomb structure and catching foreign materials.

Omasum

The third stomach chamber in ruminants, which helps in absorbing moisture from the food.

Abomasum

The fourth stomach of ruminants, similar to the simple stomach of non-ruminants, where protein digestion occurs.

Milk Fever

A condition in dairy cows occurring post-calving due to low blood calcium levels, resulting in inability to stand.

Grass Tetany

A condition in cattle caused by low blood magnesium, especially in spring when fresh grass is low in magnesium.

Ketosis

A metabolic disorder in dairy cows characterized by low blood sugar during the early lactation period.

Meat & Bone Meal

A protein supplement made from cooking and grinding animal parts, historically linked to the spread of mad cow disease.

Mad Cow Disease

A disorder caused by prions that leads to neurological deterioration in cattle and can be transmitted to humans.

Epidemiology of Mad Cow Disease

Understanding the transmission of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) primarily through contaminated feed.

Ear Notching

A system used to identify pigs and their litters through notches cut into their ears.

Hog Snare

A device used to restrain pigs by placing a loop around their snout.

Farrowing Crate

A pen used to confine a mother pig during farrowing to prevent crushing of the piglets.

SPF Pigs

Specific Pathogen Free pigs raised under strict sanitary conditions to prevent disease transmission.

Gestation Barn

A barn where pregnant sows are housed before they give birth.

Finishing Barn

A barn where market hogs are fed until they reach a desired weight for sale.

Hybrid Vigor

The improved or increased function of any biological quality in a hybrid offspring.

Rectal Prolapse

A condition in pigs where part of the rectum protrudes out of the body, often caused by straining or diarrhea.

Mastitis

An infection of the mammary gland in dairy cows, leading to inflammation and reduced milk quality.

Marbling

The intramuscular fat within meat that influences tenderness and flavor.

Traumatic Reticuloperitonitis

A condition caused by a foreign object (like a nail or wire) puncturing the reticulum.

A.I. (Artificial Insemination)

A breeding method used to impregnate sows without the need for a male.

Closed Herd

A herd that does not introduce new animals from outside, reducing disease risk.

Llamas

Pack animals used for transporting goods and guarding sheep.

Camelids

A group of animals including alpacas, llamas, and camels, known for their unique adaptations.

Ruminant Diet

A diet primarily consisting of fibrous plant material, such as grass, which requires specialized digestion.

Creep Feed

Feed provided to young animals that nursing mothers cannot access, promoting growth before weaning.

Silage

Fermented high-moisture fodder stored for livestock feed.

Hay

Dried grass or legumes used as animal feed, harvested and stored for later use.

Sweet Feed

Animal feed that has added molasses to enhance palatability.

Concentrated Feed

A type of feed that is energy-dense, providing high nutrition value in small amounts.

Ruminant Characteristics

Includes having a four-chambered stomach, ability to digest cellulose, and behavior of rumination.

Four-chambered Stomach

The unique digestive system of ruminants that includes the rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum.

Teat Canal

The channel through which milk passes from the gland cistern through the teat end during milking.