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Describe the dental formula of a ruminant - Leaving Cert Agricultural Science - Question b and c - 2009

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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.

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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.

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Answer

Ruminants possess a specialized stomach with four compartments: the rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum.

  1. Rumen: Food enters the rumen where it is fermented by microorganisms. This fermentation process breaks down cellulose in plant material.

  2. 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).

  3. Omasum: From the reticulum, the partially digested food travels to the omasum, which absorbs some water and nutrients from the feed.

  4. 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.

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