AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Quick facts. Ruminant stomachs have four compartments: the rumen, the reticulum, the omasum and the abomasum. Rumen microbes ferment feed and produce volatile fatty acids, which is the cow’s main energy source.

Detailed explanation-2: -The stomach of sheep consists of four digestive organs: the rumen, the reticulum, the omasum and the abomasum (Figure 1). The rumen is the first digestive organ.

Detailed explanation-3: -The goat’s stomach has four chambers: 1) the rumen, 2) the honeycombed reticulum, 3) the omasum, and 4) the abomasum or true stomach. The size relationship of the four chambers changes as the animal grows up.

Detailed explanation-4: -The ruminant stomach has 4 compartments: 1) rumen, 2) reticulum, 3) omasum, and 4) abomasum (Van Soest, 1994). Pregastric fermentation and breakdown of feeds occurs in the rumen, reticulum, and omasum, whereas the abomasum is the true stomach and is similar in structure and function to the non-ruminant stomach.