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Describe the dental formula of a ruminant - Leaving Cert Agricultural Science - Question b and c - 2009
Question b and c
Describe the dental formula of a ruminant. Describe the process of digestion in the stomach compartments of a ruminant animal.
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Describe the dental formula of a ruminant - Leaving Cert Agricultural Science - Question b and c - 2009
Step 1
Describe the dental formula of a ruminant.
Answer
The dental formula of a ruminant typically consists of:
- Upper Jaw: 0/3 0/1 3/3 3/3
- LowerJaw: 2/1 0/1 3/3 3/3
This means ruminants do not have upper incisors; instead, they have a dental pad that assists in grasping and tearing grass. The rest of the teeth include molars and premolars that are adapted for grinding food.
Step 2
Describe the process of digestion in the stomach compartments of a ruminant animal.
Answer
Ruminants possess a specialized stomach with four compartments: the rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum.
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Rumen: Food enters the rumen where it is fermented by microorganisms. This fermentation process breaks down cellulose in plant material.
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Reticulum: Food is then moved to the reticulum, where it undergoes further mixing and may form boluses that the animal will regurgitate and chew again (rumination).
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Omasum: From the reticulum, the partially digested food travels to the omasum, which absorbs some water and nutrients from the feed.
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Abomasum: Finally, the food reaches the abomasum, the true stomach, where enzymes are secreted to digest the food into a liquid form for absorption in the intestines.
This complex process allows ruminants to efficiently extract nutrients from fibrous plant materials.