Question

Describe the difference between ruminants and non-ruminants digestive system.

Answer 1

Ruminants	Non - Ruminants
chew the cud	Doesn’t chew the cud
have four stomach chambers – thus polygastric	Have one stomach chamber – thus monogastric
Regurgitate food	Cannot regurgitate food once swallowed.
Can digest cellulose. Have micro - organisms in the rumen that digest cellulose.	Have no micro-organisms in the stomach hence cannot digest cellulose except those animals with micro-organisms in the ceacum
Have no ptyalin in saliva hence no enzymatic digestion in the mouth.	Have ptyalin in the saliva hence enzymatic digestion begins in the mouth
Most digestion and absorption takes place in the rumen.	Most digestion and absorption takes place in the small intestines
Have alkaline saliva due to presence of ammonia.	The saliva is neutral in PH.