Chapter 1

Ruminant : among the domestic species, cattle, buffalo, sheep and goats are normally
considered as ruminant. They are characterized by a 4-chambered
stomach ( rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum) and
ruminant

behaviour.

o
-

They can digest cellulose

Cattle (bovines) dairy, beef, dual purpose and draft
Buffalo (bubalas) river buffaloes(dairy),swamp buffaloes (draft)
Sheep (0vines) dairy, meat, wool, dual purpose
Goats (caprines) dairy , meat

Physiologically, a ruminant is a mammal of the order Artiodactyla (divided hoof)

that digests plant-based food (herbivores) by initially softening it within the
animal's first stomach, then regurgitating the semi-digested mass, known as cud,

and chewing it again.

The process of re-chewing the cud to further break down plant matter and

stimulate digestion is called "ruminating".

Ruminantia(4chamber) - cattle, goats, sheep, giraffes, bison, yaks, buffalo, deer,

camels, alpacas, llamas, antelope, and nilgai.

Tylopoda(3 chamber) - camels, llamas, and alpacas,
Therefore, the term 'ruminant' is not synonymous with Ruminantia. The word
"ruminant" comes from the Latin ruminare, which means "to chew over again.

Ruminant production includes

Dairy production
Beef production
Sheep and goat production
Livestock products
Power

- milk, butter, cheese

- meat
- wool
- hide, skin, manure
- energy, dwarf

Ruminant industry in Malaysia

1. Livestock sector is the largest food industry in Malaysia

2. Ruminant sector lags far behind with the majority of cattle, sheep and goat
owned by individual farmers who normally rear animals as part of their overall
agriculture activities.
3. Traditionally these species are farmed as a side activity of small holder farmers
4. Only some of cattle belong to milk type and reared on the fringes of towns
for local raw milk supply
5. The main potential for cattle rearing appears to be in oil palm plantation
where there is ample edible herbage available for grazing as an integrated
activity.
6. Increase number of cattle in this form of farming is only compensating the loss
of smallholder cattle rearing due to urbanization of traditional villages.
Farming system
1. Small holder farm
2. Cattle oil palm integrated farm
Unique feature of ruminants: division of ruminants

Different between cattle(ruminant) and horse (non ruminant)

Cattle (bovine)
Chamber of stomach
4 chamber

Horse (equine)
Single chamber

Stomac
h

Digestive system

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

No teeth in upper jaw

Divided hoof
Feature of bovine rumen
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Mouth
Esophagus
Reticulum
Omasum
Abomasum
Rumen
Small intestine

Comparison mouth and teeth

Both jaw have teeth
Type of hoof
Undivided hoof

Digestion and fermentation vat

Contains anaerobic microbes
Papillae lining increase surface area
Absorption of VFA by passive diffusion
Largest chamber

Rumen

i.
ii.

Esophagus
Stomach
Small intestine
Cecum
Large colon
Small colon
Rectum

Digestion and fermentation vat

Mature capacity: 40-50 gallons
No secretions

Contains anaerobic microbes

i. 25-50 billion bacteria/ml fluid
ii. Also have protozoa, fungi
iii. Microbes produce volatile fatty acid (VFA) and protein
Papillae lining increase surface area
Absorption of VFA by passive diffusion
Largest chamber

Reticulum

Honey comb lining

No secretions
Formation of food bolus
Regurgitation is initiated here
Collects hardware (nails,wire)

Omasum

Laminae/many ply lining

i.
Muscular folds
ii.
No secretions
Reduces particle size
Absorption of water (60% removed)
Absorption of VFAs
Prevents buffering of the abomasum

Abomasum

True gastric stomach4 gallons in a cow

Three regions cardiac, fundic and pyloric
Digestive secretions - proteolytic enzymes and HCl
Decrease pH from 6.0 to 2.5 that
i. Denatures proteins
ii. Kills bacteria and pathogens
iii. Dissolves minerals
iv. Gastric digestion