Ruminant Digestion - Long Branch Public Schools

Ruminant Digestion

Steps for digestion

Ruminants

Cattle, Sheep, Goats, Deer, Elk

Primarily Herbivores

60-75% of food fermented by microbes before exposed to gastric juices!!

Step 1: Chewing! (Mouth)

Consists of Tongue, Teeth, Saliva

Primary purpose is to breakdown ingesta

Teeth breakdown into smaller pieces Saliva uses a high pH to breakdown

Mouth is source of chewing and rechewing food

40,000 to 60,000 jaw movements a day!!

Step 2: Esophagus

2 ? to 3 feet long!

Uses muscle contractions to move food

Food should pass through 2 times before fully digested.

Opens into Reticulum and Rumen.

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