Is There “Room in it”? A Symbiotic Journey Inside The Cow By Jackie Garfield & Matt Micari

In the next 20 minutes, we’ll… Define Ruminant Examine digestive system of cattle Discuss the symbionts Describe the new metabolism Explain how Infection occurs

What is a Ruminant? Ruminant: (n.) any of the various cud-chewing mammals having a stomach divided into four compartments. Cows, sheep, moose, goats, antelope, and camels

Follow the food…

The Reticulum… Has thick walls and is puncture resistant Acts as a sieve Food is separated into layers of liquid and solid material The solids, known as cud, are regurgitated, rechewed, & reswallowed 500 times/day

The Rumen A Fermentation Vat Volume: L Temp: º C pH: 6.4 to 7.2

Rumen Microflora Unlike other symbioses, the focus is not the specificity but the variety of microbial symbionts

Rumen Bacteria All three types of bacteria - Cocci, Rod, & Spirllia - are present Use cellulose, hemi-cellulose, starch, sugars, intermediate acids, proteins, and lipids. They regulate overall fermentation by reducing CO 2 with H 2 gas to form methane. Attachment of rumen bacteria on rice

Protozoa Ingest bacteria for their protein source Control bacteria numbers in the rumen Genera of Protists Eu Eudiplodinium Ep Epidinium En Entodinium D Daystrichia O Ostracodinium El Enoplastron.

Rumen Fungi Degrade cellulose and xylans Aid in fiber digestion Anaeromyces

New Metabolism of the Ruminant Almost all glucose produced by breaking down cellulose is used by the symbiotic bacteria. Ruminants get their energy from the volatile fatty acids produced by bacteria: acetate, propionate & butyrate.

Interconnected environments Contents in the rumen are not homogenous New and old material are pushed by muscular contractions & settle in the different layers

Microbial Environments

Liquid Phase Free living microbes feed on soluble carbohydrates and protein 25% of microbial mass

Solid Phase Microbes digest insoluble polysaccharides like starch and fiber Microbes digest insoluble polysaccharides like starch and fiber 70% of microbial mass 70% of microbial mass

Microbial Attachment Microbes attach to rumen epithelial cells or protozoa Microbes attach to rumen epithelial cells or protozoa Ensures consistant population numbers Ensures consistant population numbers 5% of microbial mass 5% of microbial mass Bacterial attachment to the bovine rumen epithelium

The Omasum Only small particles of food pass into the omasum Only small particles of food pass into the omasum Also called the Butcher’s Bible Also called the Butcher’s Bible Contains many folds to increase the surface area Contains many folds to increase the surface area Water, electrolytes & more VFA’s are absorbed Water, electrolytes & more VFA’s are absorbed

The Abomasum The true stomach The true stomach Walls of the stomach secrete enzymes & HCl Walls of the stomach secrete enzymes & HCl pH around 2.5 pH around 2.5 Proteins from microbes and remaining feed are broken down Proteins from microbes and remaining feed are broken down

The Final Journey To the small and large intestines To the small and large intestines and beyond…… and beyond……

The next generation…. Does not have a developed rumen Becomes infected with microbes from drinking from udders of mother and grooming Rumen develops due to microbe activity as diet changes

In Review What are VFA’s and why are they important to the ruminant? What are VFA’s and why are they important to the ruminant? Name 2 ruminants. Name 2 ruminants. What are the four compartments of the ruminant stomach? What are the four compartments of the ruminant stomach? Antelopes, goats, sheep, camels, & moose Antelopes, goats, sheep, camels, & moose Reticulum, Rumen, Omasum, & Abomasum Volatile fatty acids / Energy source for cow

The End

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