Gastric Secretion in ruminants
Abomasum is the only part of the ruminal stomach secreting digestive juices. Fundic abomasum is rich in HCl, pepsin and in young ruminant rennin- a milk coagulating enzyme is found.
pH of abomasal juice is approx 1.0 to 1.3.
Buffered ingesta with volatile fatty acids entering abomasum increases abomasal secretion.
Regulation of abomasal secretion is compelx. It involves humoral and neural factors.
Gastrin, G.I tract hormone is secreted by abomasal mucosa in response to cholinergic stimuli.
Absorption
Ruminal wall is composed of stratified, squamous, highly vascular which facilitates transport of nutrient and other components from rumen to blood and vice versa.
Water, electrolytes, volatile fatty acids, alkaloids, iodide, sodium cyanide, potassium ion and are readily absorbed from the rumen.
60 to 70% of the digestible organic matter is readily absorbed from the rumen and other two compartments.
