August 2008 Large Animal Digestion Worth County Middle School Donald Gilman Georgia Agriculture Education Curriculum Office May, 2004

August 2008 Introduction There are two types of digestion systems in large animals (I.e. Cows, Horses,Hogs) Ruminants and Nonruminants

August 2008 Topics of Discussion Ruminants are multi compartment Animals. Their stomachs consist of four compartments.

August 2008 Consist of Cattle, Sheep and Goats They are cud chewers They eat rapidly and through the intake of fiber, they bring their meal back up and chew it again. This process takes place 8 –10 times a day. Ruminants

August 2008 Ruminants Usually eat fibrous feeds like hay and pasture Occasionally eat concentrates that are low fiber and high energy like grains and high protein foods

August 2008 Parts of the System Mouth- entry Esophagus/gullet- tube like passage from the mouth to the stomach Stomach- receives the food,adds chemicals that helps in the process of digestion Small intestine- long folded tube attached to the bottom of the stomach; aids further in the process of digestion Large intestine- Larger in diameter than the S.I. but shorter in length. The end of the L.I. is the rectum

August 2008 Continued Anus- the point of the body where undigested food (feces) leaves the body. NOTE: the stomach of the ruminant is primarily where most of the digestion takes place.

August 2008 The Ruminant Stomach Rumen- the largest compartment;catches the solid foods. Reticulum-catches liquids and foreign objects( wire and nails). Omasum-Strong muscle that grinds food sent from the rumen Abomasum-this is the true stomach;contains digestive(gastric) juices and works the same as a Nonruminant.

August 2008 Continued Ruminants eat rapidly; the animal then lays down and the food is forced back into the mouth where it is chewed again; this is known as their cud.

August 2008 Non Ruminants Horses and Hogs All parts are the same as the ruminant EXCEPT the stomach. N.R. stomach is a single compartment - Monogastric When food enters the stomach,gastric juices stat to break down the food. Require a large amount of concentrates in their diet (high protein grains)

August 2008 Continued Gastric juices contain enzymes: Pepsin and rennin Both enzymes work in conjunction with the squeezing action of the stomach to digest the food The small intestine helps to further digest any food left The large intestine completes this process by the process of absorption and passes the fecal matter out to the rectum.

August 2008 Summary Digestion is the breaking down of feed into simple substances that can be absorbed into the blood stream. Ruminants need a lot of roughage Nonruminants need more concentrates. Most digested feed is absorbed in the small intestine. Non absorbed food is passes from the body.