The stomach of ruminants: the structure and features of digestion, diseases

Raising animals on your own land comes with many challenges. To feed their pets and keep them he althy, owners have to take into account the characteristics of each species. The content of ruminants is directly related to the structural features of the stomach. The multichambered stomach consists of several sections. For proper diet planning, the owner must know the basics of the anatomical structure of the main organs.

The structure of the stomach of cattle

The stomach of ruminants is a multi-chamber organ. The complex structure ensures the capture and processing of food.Features of the anatomical structure make it possible to obtain from plant materials the nutrients necessary for cattle. The organs of capture in ruminants are lips, teeth and tongue. Further digestion is carried out sequentially, that is, food alternately passes through all sections of the proventriculus before it enters the true stomach.

Scar

One of the sections of the stomach, which is called the proventriculus. This section occupies most of the abdominal cavity and is the largest organ in size. In cows, the scar stretches for 100-300 liters. Sheep have a scar with a volume of 15 to 23 liters. The scar consists of a voluminous bag curved in shape with developed muscles. The purpose of the scar is the primary processing of incoming food. One of the names of the scar is a fermentation chamber. Up to 75 percent of the incoming feed is processed here.

Grid

The mesh in ungulates is a section that is designed to filter primary processed food.The mesh holes allow only those pieces that are partially processed in the rumen. The wall of the mesh is lined with mucous membrane, it is a bag with a rough surface.

Help! The mesh is in constant motion, the folds alternately moving from the bottom of the organ to the top.

Book

Department looks like a flipped book. Due to the presence of special sweets, it is in constant motion. “Flipping through” the incoming pieces of food allows you to mix elements with isolated enzymes and absorb the maximum amount of fiber. Insufficiently processed pieces are sent to the previous departments for more thorough chewing.

Abonet

The fourth section of the stomach, which is the true stomach. Digestion on the surface of the abomasum is carried out by splitting pieces of food with acid and enzymes.The abomasum is lined with soft epithelium from the inside. The folds of the cavity produce the production of pancreatic juice. Due to the action of juice, acids and enzymes, the process of assimilation of the necessary elements begins.

Undigested food moves towards the caecum and rectum and then out to the anus to exit.

Physiological phenomena in the digestion of ruminant mammals

The ruminant's digestive system is designed to constantly digest food. This process starts from the moment the food is captured by the tongue and lasts for several hours until the moment when processing begins inside the abomasum.

Inception

The complex structure of the multi-chamber stomach allows you to process plant foods with maximum benefit for the animal. The pancreas have a unique purpose. The initial stage begins with throwing food into the scar.

Conditions that allow efficient processing of food in the rumen:

MoisturePromotes fiber softening, moistens pieces, makes them more pliable for further digestion

Condition	Description
Lack of oxygen	Prevents bacteria from multiplying too fast
Heater	Toughens food, making it suitable for pushing through wall holes

Help! It takes up to 70 minutes to process in the rumen. Much of the plant material becomes a chewing gum product.

Defining a phenomenon

Chewing gum is a phenomenon when the captured raw material from the scar repeatedly returns to the oral cavity. This feature is aimed at detailed grinding of food. The scheme of the reflex mechanism includes the natural contraction of the fibers and the pushing of the chewing gum from one section to another until the product takes the form that is necessary to enter the net.

The chewing gum period lasts 1 hour. Then comes a period of rest, but in the normal state of the animal, contractions of the stomach persist. The result of the contraction is the production of saliva. After the end of the rest period, the process of chewing is activated again. Gum is an important phenomenon in the complex digestive system.

Information! Gum doesn't stop at nightfall.

Further processing of food ingredients

The digestive system of artiodactyls is designed to digest a large amount of vegetable and protein food. The digestion process continues on the surface of the book. Between the “leaves”, the particles that have arrived are additionally fermented, lose moisture, and are enriched with the isolated animal protein.

Glands

In artiodactyl animals, the pancreas, which produces the juice necessary for digestion, is located along the duodenum. The lobular structure ensures the supply of the necessary products of activity to the stomach.

Common pathologies

Pathologies of the digestive system lead to a change in the general condition of animals. Some disorders lead to complex irreversible diseases.

Bloating

Bloating, or tympania, is a dangerous condition that leads to blockage of the esophagus. Causes of bloating:

• abrupt change in diet;
• eating large chunks;
• Eating gas-producing foods.

Bloating is diagnosed by the refusal of the animal to eat. The abdomen is doubled.Cows do not have ruminant, they show anxiety or apathy. Severe manifestations are characterized by the development of shortness of breath, blanching of the mucous membranes, an increase in normal temperature.

To help the animal, take the following measures:

• stimulate the stomach with medicines ("Tympanol", "Magnesia", activated charcoal);
• remove large pieces from the esophagus with a probe;
• in case of complications, the scar is perforated with a trocar.

Stop

Stopping the work of the stomach or lack of contractions is a serious pathology that disrupts the general condition of the body. The reason for the stop is a complete blockage of the esophagus. This is due to improper feeding. The stop indicates that the animal's diet is not balanced, concentrated feed predominates.

Anti-stop measures:

• gastric lavage;
• rumen massage;
• drinking hellebore tincture, saline, vodka with oil.

Clog

The blockage of the book entails the shutdown of other departments. This pathology occurs due to the predominance of dry, grain or concentrated food. The reason may be the presence of sand or dirt in the food. Blockage leads to a complete cessation of the stomach, so the symptoms of the phenomenon are similar to stopping. Blockage control measures:

• gastric lavage;
• use hellebore tincture, vegetable oil, vodka, moonshine;
• rumen massage.

Advice! Blockage can be diagnosed by puncturing the stomach. With severe needle entry, the diagnosis can be considered confirmed.

Injury

Injury associated with eating foreign objects. There are known cases of animals swallowing nails, wire, pieces of lime, wood chips, sharp stones. These objects are able to pierce the walls of the scar, break through the mesh or pierce into nearby organs. If foreign materials are found to have been ingested, immediate action must be taken. Signs of a dangerous condition:

• complete loss of appetite;
• stretching the neck;
• swallowing attempts;
• animals taking unnatural positions;
• possible increase in body temperature.

The way out of the situation is gastric lavage. When swallowing metal objects, a magnetic probe is used to examine the esophagus.If the object is stuck in the stomach, the animal is subjected to surgery. It can be difficult to leave the animal after the intervention, so it is taken away to slaughter.

Injury is a serious problem faced in the keeping of cattle. Regular cleaning, maintaining cleanliness in places of detention and control over the quality of feed are considered a preventive measure.

Recommended