In cattle, the stomach is rather complicated, as a rule, it includes 4 chambers. Initially, the food enters the oral cavity of the animal, after which, moving along the esophagus, it enters the scar. Food in the liquid state passes into the net, after which it penetrates into the book, where the crushed feed is dehydrated to a slurry state and nutrients are absorbed into the animal’s body. The cow’s scar is located in the abdominal cavity on the left, which is important to know when studying its structure and functions.
Where is the scar on a cow
As you know, cows constantly chew, the lower jaw makes up to 50 thousand circular movements daily. Such behavior, as a rule, is due to the peculiarities of the structure of the digestive system in animals. The stomach prevents the entry of coarse fractions into the intestines, sending them back to the oral cavity. The cow grinds the returned fractions a second time, which is why she chews constantly, without interruptions. The stomach includes 4 chambers, each of which is responsible for performing a specific function.
All coarse feed particles from the cow’s mouth end up in the rumen. The scar is the largest part of the stomach, capable of holding up to 150 liters. The scar is located in the abdominal cavity, on the left side.
The structure of the scar
If we consider the structure of the scar of a cow, then it is worth noting that it consists of several departments:
- dorsal;
- ventral;
- cranial.
They are called bags, which are interconnected by longitudinal grooves. The furrows are covered with a mucous membrane from the inside, they are responsible for the formation of muscle traction. The largest sac in the scar is dorsal, it has a horizontal position in the abdominal cavity.
In close proximity to the pelvic part is the ventral sac, it is in a vertical position.
The cranial sac is located in the lower part, occupies a horizontal position in relation to the dorsal one. As a rule, if pathologies are observed in the gastrointestinal tract, then food stagnates in the cranial sac. The ventral and cranial sacs, in contrast to the dorsal sacs, are much smaller.
As you know, glands are completely absent in the scar, and the upper part of the mucous membrane is densely covered with papillae, which contribute to an increase in the absorptive surface of the proventriculus. Digestion of food is carried out due to the fact that beneficial bacteria and other microorganisms affect food:
- in the proventriculus there are about 7 kg of beneficial bacteria, which occupy 10% of the total volume. They take part in the breakdown of starch, proteins and fats. For the growth of bacteria, it is necessary to provide the cow with a sufficient amount of clover, timothy;
- in total, there are about 23 types of fungi in the rumen, as a rule, these are molds and yeasts that affect cellulose. Thanks to fungi, vitamin B is produced;
- if we consider microorganisms, then there are up to 2 million for each ml. They are directly involved in the digestion of coarse and dry food. Thanks to ciliates, the synthesis of proteins is carried out, which enter the body of a cow from food.
functions
Hay is the main feed that must be given to cows. If the food is rough, then a “pillow” will begin to form in the abdominal cavity, which is constantly shaken when exposed to muscle walls. Food is gradually moistened, after which it swells and undergoes grinding. After hay, animals are given juicy feed or dry mix.
If the cow is initially given dry food, and then immediately juicy, then the food quickly begins to sink into the liquid contents of the rumen. There it will settle on the walls, while the mixing process will be quite complicated. As a rule, the rumen microflora has only a partial effect on the swollen feed that passes through the mesh and the proventriculus. A lump of food moves as quickly as possible.
Thus, the animal’s body does not receive enough nutrients, as they are excreted along with the feces. Giving a cow primarily dry food can significantly disrupt the acid-base balance, as a result of which this can cause acidosis.
The following processes take place in the pancreas:
- fiber is broken down to a state of glucose;
- starch is converted into glycogen and amylopectin, the formation of volatile and non-volatile fatty acids occurs;
- proteins are broken down to amino acids and simplest polypeptides, the process of ammonia release begins;
- due to the influence of the microflora of the rumen and stomach, vitamin B is synthesized. In addition, vitamins of group K begin to form. If the functioning of the rumen is impaired, then vitamins are injected into the cow’s body by injection.
Most of the nutrients enter the cow’s body through the teats, which are located on the mucosa of the rumen. The remaining substances enter the intestine through the proventriculus, from where they are further carried by the blood to all organs. It is important to consider that the work of the rumen in a cow is accompanied by an abundant release of gases.
If the development of diseases is observed, then gases will begin to accumulate in the region of the cranial sac, which is located in the lower part on the left side. That is why the animal is massaged in this part of the abdomen. Experts recommend approaching the issue of animal nutrition as responsibly as possible. This is due primarily to the fact that in violation of the microflora of the stomach and scar, various pathologies begin to actively develop.
Conclusion
The cow’s scar is located on the left side of the abdominal cavity. This section of the stomach is considered the largest. Due to the fact that bacteria and microorganisms act on coarse food, a fermentation process occurs, after which the food begins to break down.