16 Difference Between Ruminant And Non-Ruminant Animals With Examples

What Are Ruminant Animals?

Ruminants also referred to as ‘’polygastrics’’ are herbivores with a complex (four-part stomach) which allow them to chew food more than once. Parts of their stomach structure include, Rumen, Reticulum, Omasum and abomasums. The rumen and the reticulum are connected and work in concert and are therefore sometimes referred to as ‘’ reticulorumen.’’ The reticulum and rumen work together to separate solids and liquids. Contractions push solid food particles back up into the rumen, while liquids are drained into the reticulum. Specialized microbes species live in the rumen and help ruminants break down cellulose. The four main processes that take place in their digestive system of ruminants include regurgitation, remastication, resalivation and re-swallowing.

Other than Camel and chevrotains that have a three-chambered stomach, most ruminants have four-chambered stomachs and a two-toed food. The upper incisors are reduced or sometimes absent. Ruminants eat quickly, storing masses of foliage in the first chamber of the stomach, the rumen, where it softens. They later regurgitate this material, referred to as cud, and chew it again to further break down its cellulose content, which is difficult to digest. The chewed cud goes directly to the other chambers of the stomach (the reticulum, omasum and abomasums), where it is further digested with the aid of various essential microorganisms that live in the stomach.

In ruminants, the main source of amino acids is generally the ruminally-produced bacterial protein. The second important sources of amino acids include dietary proteins that escaped ruminal degradation but are digested in the abomasums and the intestine.

Examples of Ruminant Animals include:

• Sheep
• elk
• Okapis
• Giraffes
• Pronghorns
• Camels
• Goats
• Cattle
• Antelopes
• Deer
• Buffalo

Facts About Ruminant Animals

1. Ruminant are herbivorous mammals with four-part stomachs which allow them to chew food more than once.
2. They chew and regurgitate their food more than once and digest it multiple times in different stomachs.
3. Ruminants are generally herbivorous.
4. They have a long digestive system.
5. Ruminants have a complex stomach with four stomach compartments that is Rumen, Reticulum, Omasun and abomasums.
6. They produce more saliva with no carbohydrate digestive enzymes.
7. Reverse peristalsis is common in ruminants.
8. Premolars and molars of ruminants move in the lateral direction during chewing.
9. Most digestion and absorption takes place in the stomach.
10. They chew cud.
11. They digest all plant carbohydrates including cellulose.
12. They have a relatively large liver.
13. They do not produce enzymes for protein digestion.
14. They generally have two blunt canines in their mouth.
15. They take a relatively longer time to digest plant material.
16. They produce a lot of faecal material.

What Are Non-ruminant Animals?

Non-ruminant animals also referred to as ‘’ monogastrics’’ are animals with a single-compartment stomach. Monogastrics cannot digest the fiber molecule cellulose as efficiently as ruminants, though the ability to digest cellulose varies amongst species.

Non-ruminant digestive system works as soon as the food enters the mouth. Saliva moistens the food and begins the digestive process. After being swallowed, the food passes from the esophagus into the stomach. The stomach serves as a reservoir for short-term food storage and digestion. In the stomach, stomach acids and enzymes help to breakdown the food and then the food is moved into small intestine where most fats are broken down.

Horses and rabbits are non-ruminant herbivores whose digestive tracts have mono and polygastric capabilities. The stomach and small intestine process starch, proteins, vitamins and minerals, but the fibrous part of their feed passes through the small intestine to the hindgut where fermentation further break down the food. Herbivores such as zebras and rhinoceroses, expel large amounts of undigested food. To obtain necessary nutrients, they must continually graze and eat huge quantities of food.

Examples of non-ruminants include:

• Humans
• Primates
• Swine
• Dogs
• Cats
• Horses
• Pigs
• Rabbit
• Guinea pig

Facts About Non-ruminant Animals

1. Non-ruminant animals also referred to as ‘’ monogastrics’’ are animals with a single-compartment stomach.
2. They chew their food once and digest it in one stomach.
3. Non-ruminants can be herbivorous, omnivorous or carnivorous.
4. They have a shorter digestive system when compared to that of ruminants.
5. Ruminant have a simple stomach with only one compartment.
6. They produce less saliva with carbohydrate digestive enzymes.
7. Reverse peristalsis is absent in non-ruminants.
8. Premolars and molars of non-ruminants move in the vertical direction.
9. Most digestion and absorption takes place in the ileum.
10. They do not chew cud.
11. They do not digest cellulose.
12. They have a relatively smaller liver.
13. They produce enzymes for protein digestion.
14. They generally have four sharp canines in their mouth.
15. They take comparatively less time to digest food material.
16. Produce less faecal material.

Difference Between Ruminant And Non-Ruminant Animals In Tabular Form