Podcast
Questions and Answers
What substances does saliva contain when forage and feed are consumed?
What substances does saliva contain when forage and feed are consumed?
Saliva contains sodium, potassium, phosphate, bicarbonate, and urea when forage and feed are consumed.
What is the function of saliva in the mouth of a ruminant?
What is the function of saliva in the mouth of a ruminant?
Saliva aids in chewing and swallowing, contains enzymes for breakdown of fat and starch, and is involved in nitrogen recycling to the rumen. Its most important function is to buffer pH levels in the reticulum and rumen.
How do cattle harvest forages during grazing?
How do cattle harvest forages during grazing?
Cattle harvest forages during grazing by wrapping their tongues around the plants and then pulling to tear the forage for consumption.
What is the tube-like passage through which the bolus moves from the mouth to the reticulum called?
What is the tube-like passage through which the bolus moves from the mouth to the reticulum called?
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What carries the substances from the mouth to the reticulum?
What carries the substances from the mouth to the reticulum?
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Study Notes
Composition of Saliva
- Saliva contains water, electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride), enzymes (amylase and lipase), mucins, and antimicrobial agents.
- Key enzymes in saliva begin the digestion of carbohydrates and fats in forage and feed.
Function of Saliva in Ruminants
- Saliva helps in lubrication, facilitating the swallowing of food.
- It contains buffers that neutralize acids, helping maintain a stable pH in the rumen.
- Saliva provides a habitat for beneficial microbes essential for fermentation in the rumen.
Grazing Behavior of Cattle
- Cattle use their tongues to grasp and pull forage, efficiently harvesting grass and other plants.
- They can pivot their heads to access various forage types within a grazing area.
- Cattle also engage in a process called rumination, which involves regurgitating and re-chewing food for further breakdown.
Passage from Mouth to Reticulum
- The tube-like passage for the bolus is called the esophagus.
- The esophagus transports the bolus through muscular contractions known as peristalsis.
Transport of Substances
- The esophagus carries substances such as the bolus, along with saliva, from the mouth to the reticulum during the process of digestion.
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Description
Test your knowledge of the digestive system of monogastric and ruminant animals. Learn about the functions of different parts of the digestive system and how ruminants use their mouth to harvest forages.
