Digestive System
sheep are ruminant animals, this means that they have four "stomachs".
Rumen: the first chamber in the alimentary canal of ruminant animals. It serves as the primary site for microbial fermentation of ingested feed.The rumen is located at the base of the esophagus.
Reticulum: Anatomically it is considered the smaller portion of the reticulorumen along with the rumen.The fluid contents of the reticulum play a role in particle separation. The separation takes place through biphasic contractions.The contractions occur in regular intervals. Omasum: (third stomach) removes 60-70% of water from the rumen fluid that enters. Abomasum: (fourth/true stomach) cells in the walls secrete gastric juices, which contain enzymes that starts the digestion of proteins. Gastric juices also contain hydrochloric acid that kills a majority of rumen microbes and starts their digestion. |