Exam 3 Advanced Beef Production Chapter 15: The Ruminant Digestive System

What are the four compartments of the stomach?

Rumen

Reticulum

Omasum

Abomasum

What is the flow of feed through the digestive system?

1. Mouth

2. Esophagus

3. Rumen

4. Reticulum

5. Omasum

6. Abomasum

7. Small Intestine

8. Large Intestine

What is the main function of the mouth?

acquire feed and chew

What is the largest compartent?

Rumen

how big is the rumen?

40-60 gallons

what does the rumen serve as?

a large anaerobic fermentation vat

What does the rumen contain?

bacteria

protozoa

yeast

molds

what do microorganisms in the rumen aid with?

digesting of feedstuff, usually fiber

how often does the rumen contract?

1-3 times per minute

what are advantages of rumen fermentation?

1. Forage utilization

2. utilization of non-protein nitrogen

3. vitamin synthesis

what are disadvantages of rumen fermentation?

1. excess gas production

2. inefficient nitrogen utilization

3. heat of fermentation

4. digestive problems

T/F: it takes beef cattle on finishing diets about 6 pounds of feed for each pound of gain.

True

T/F: the composition of the diet alters the microbial population

true

T/F: in many situations, giving the microbes what they need to grow is the best way to meet nutritional needs of cattle.

True

Which compartment is honeycomb-like and involved in rumination?

Reticulum

Which compartment has the primary function of filtering large particles back to the reticulorumen for further digestion?

Omasum

T/F: the omasum produces a grinding action on foodstuffs.

True

which compartment is known as the true stomach?

Abomasum

T/F: the abomasum produces large quantities of acid and some enzymes to start protein digestion.

True

the Abomasum produces _______ that breaks down bacterial cell walls.

lysozyme

T/F: microorganisms that are in the digest are digested in the small intestine serving as a major source of protein,

True

A (high/low) percentage of the bypass protein in the feed is digested in the small intestine

high

where are VFAs mainly absorbed through?

rumen wall

where does major absorption of protein, fats, and minerals occur?

small intestine

What is the center of metabolic activity in the body?

liver

T/F: the major role of the liver in the digestive process is to provide the bile salts from the gall bladder, which are required for the digestion of fats.

true

What organ produces many of the enzymes required to digest the foodstuffs?

pancreas

making the _____ happy is often the key to meeting the nutrient requirements of beef cattle

bugs