ANSC 110
DIGESTIVE
SYSTEM OF FARM
ANIMALS
LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Identify and 2. Explain the
describe the 3. Compare and
physiological
anatomical contrast the
functions of each
components of digestive processes
part of the
ruminant and of ruminants and
digestive system;
monogastric monogastric
digestive animals.
systems;
LEARNING OUTCOMES
4. Develop a deeper understanding of
how digestive anatomy impacts feed
utilization and management strategies.
DIGESTIVE SYSTEMS
Digestion: Breaking down large, nutrient macromolecules into
simpler molecules for use by an organism.
•Food enters the mouth and goes through mechanical and
chemical changes as it passes through the alimentary canal.
DIGESTIVE TRACT
-is also known as the gastro-intestinal tract or alimentary tract
-begins at the mouth and ends in the anus
KINDS OF DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Monogastric (simple-stomached) e.g. humans, pigs
Ruminant (compound stomach) e.g. cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat
Pseudo-ruminant (hind-gut fermenters) e.g. horse & rabbit
Avian digestive system e.g. birds/avian species (poultry)
MONOGASTRIC/SIMPLE STOMACH
Swine, dogs, cats, humans
composed of a single compartment stomach
includes mouth, teeth, tongue, salivary glands, esophagus,
stomach, small intestine, liver, pancreas, cecum, large
intestine, rectum, anus
MOUTH
This is the start of the digestive
system. The teeth mechanically
grinds down the food. The saliva,
made in salivary glands, chemically
digests the food using enzymes.
ESOPHAGUS
is a muscular tube which connects the stomach to
the mouth. The crop found in poultry is an
invagination of the esophagus and its the
temporary storage of food.
Functions:
formation of bolus
peristalsis - the rhythmic muscular
contractions at the esophagus that propel food
to the stomach
sphincter action
regurgitation prevention
STOMACH
is a muscular organ which is the
site for feed storage, grinding and
mixing of feed, absorption,
enzymatic action and microbial
fermentation.
SMALL INTESTINE
is the site of further digestion and
absorption of certain products from
the stomach digestion. The small
intestine is composed of three parts,
the duodenum, jejunum and ileum.
THE INTESTINES ABSORBING FOOD
The intestines have a large surface area as a result of
lots of tiny folds, which absorb nutrients and water.
AND WATER
VILLI FUNCTION
Specialized projecting structures known as villi, are
present in the small intestine. The villi themselves have
even smaller hair like projections on their surfaces
known as microvilli. The villi have a good blood supply
from capillaries, which enable the absorption of
nutrients from the gut wall into the blood.
LARGE INTESTINE
is the site of water absorption,
storage of waste material, and
bacterial digestion of fiber. The
cecum and colon are parts of the
large intestine
RECTUM
The rectum contains undigested
food stored as faeces.
ANUS
This is the end of the digestive
system and where faeces and other
wastes leave the body.
ACCESSORY GLANDS
Accessory glands of the digestive system are organs that secrete
enzymes, acids, and emulsifiers that help break down food and
other materials.
LIVER
secretes bile needed for the
emulsification of fat in the small
intestine
PANCREAS
produces digestive enzymes needed
in the digestive processes that take
place in the small intestine.
SALIVARY GLANDS
provide mucus which aid in the
swallowing process. In some
animals, saliva contains the enzyme,
ptyalin.
RUMINANT/COMPOUND STOMACH
Ruminants are characterized by having a stomach with four
compartments
Rumination - the regurgitation, reinsalivation, rechewing
and reswallowing of ingested food (4Rs)
RUMINANT DIGESTION
Ruminants eat rapidly and do not chew their food completely
before swallowing. Solid parts go to the rumen. In the rumen,
feed is mixed and partially broken down by bacteria. When the
rumen is full, the animal lies down to regurgitate and rechew the
feed. This is called rumination - chewing the cud.
·5-7 hours each day are spent in rumination.
Bacteria and microbes in the rumen allow the animal to
consume large quantities of roughage (hay, grass, and silage).
These bacteria change low-quality protein into amino acids
which are essential for growth and maintenance of cells.
·The digestion by microbes in the rumen produces large amounts
of methane and carbon dioxide. If these gases form faster
than the animal can eliminate them, bloating occurs.
RUMINANT DIGESTION
1. Rumen (microbial | From the rumen, the liquid parts go to the reticulum
(honeycomb - attached to the rumen), then to the omasum
digestion)
(many plies), and on to the abomasum (the true stomach).
·The reticulum breaks feed into smaller particles, adds saliva and
water to aid in digestion. Any foreign objects such as wire or
2. Reticulum nails are held here.
(honeycomb) ·The omasum grinds feed and may squeeze some water out.
·The abomasum is called the true stomach. Feed is mixed with
gastric juices and digestion is carried out like in non-ruminants.
3. Omasum
(many plies)
4. Abomasum
(true stomach)
RUMINANT STOMACH
RUMINANT STOMACH
DIGESTIVE PROCESS - RUMINANTS
RUMINANT DIGESTION
Small intestine - digestion continues here;
majority of the absorption of nutrients occurs
in the small intestine
Accessory Glands
·Pancreas - Gland which secretes digestive
juices into the small intestine for digestion
of carbohydrates, proteins and fats
·Liver - secretes bile into the small
intestine to help digest fats
·Gall bladder - temporary storage of bile
from the liver
·Cecum - (blind gut) little function
·Large intestine - absorbs water; site of some
digestion by bacteria; adds lubricant to ease
transportation of material through tract
·Anus - area where undigested food is removed
from the body
MODIFIED SIMPLE STOMACH
Are simple stomach animals with modified digestive organs
For example, equines have a modified simple stomach, which
means they have a monogastric digestive system with
fermentation in the modified cecum.
MODIFIED SIMPLE STOMACH - AVIAN
Avian digestive system is different from ruminant and non-ruminant digestive systems.
The feed in the proventriculus are secreted by the glandular stomach and mix with feed. The feed then
moves to the gizzard (for mechanical digestion).
The epithelial lining of the gizzard breaks the feed into smaller particles, further mixing with
proventricular digestive juices with the feed in the gizzard. The end of the digestive system of avian
species is at the vent.
MODIFIED SIMPLE STOMACH - EQUINE
Mouth - grasping food; physical and
chemical breakdown of food (chewing or
grinding and saliva)
Esophagus - moves food and liquid from
the mouth to the stomach
Stomach - digestion of proteins and fats
due to digestive juices
Small intestine - digestion of proteins,
fats and starch due to juices; absorption of
many nutrients.
Pancreas - secretes juices to aid in
digestion of fats
Liver - direct secretion of bile to aid in the
digestion of fats
MODIFIED SIMPLE STOMACH - EQUINE
Large intestine - made up of the
following parts
Cecum - microorganism (bacterial)
digestion of fiber
Large colon - some bacteria for digestion
of cellulose, making B-vitamins and amino
acids (part of proteins); absorbs some fatty
acids
Small colon - absorbs water; site of
formation of characteristic balls of feces
(undigested material which is expelled
from the animal)
Rectum - connects the large intestine to
the anus
Anus - opening where undigested material
passes out of the body
THE END
DIGESTIVE
SYSTEM