Cattle and Their Digestion

What are cattle classified as due to their specialized digestive system?

• Carnivores

• Herbivores

• Ruminants

• Omnivores

What is the relationship between cattle and the microbes in their stomach?

• Competitive

• Symbiotic

• Parasitic

• Predatory

Which compartment of the ruminant stomach is primarily responsible for fermentation?

• Rumen

• Reticulum

• Omasum

• Abomasum

What do microbes in the rumen break down cellulose into?

• Proteins

• Sugars

• Volatile fatty acids (VFAs)

• Amino acids

Which gases are produced in the rumen and released through eructation?

• Oxygen and nitrogen

• Methane and carbon dioxide

• Hydrogen and helium

• Nitrogen and argon

What role does the reticulum play in the digestive system besides trapping particles?

• It digests proteins

• It sorts materials

• It absorbs water

• It produces bile

How is the structure of the omasum described?

• A spherical compartment with numerous folds.

• A long tube with smooth walls.

• A flat surface with no folds.

• A circular compartment with a single fold.

What does the omasum remove from the feed?

• Excess liquid.

• Solid waste.

• Nutrients.

• Gases.

What is the purpose of increasing the surface area of the feed in cows?

• To make it taste better

• To make it easier for microbes to break it down

• To store it for later

• To make it more colorful

What do microbes break down in the rumen?

• Proteins

• Cellulose

• Fats

• Sugars