Cattle are ruminants. Therefore they can feed on pastures as well as grains, scraps, etc. They require this diet so that they receive all the nutrients they need to grow, develop, produce and reproduce properly. Ruminants are able to acquire nutrients from plant-based food by fermenting it in a specialized stomach (rumen) prior to digestion. The process typically requires the fermented cud to be regurgitated and chewed again. The process of re-chewing the cud to further break down plant matter and stimulate digestion is called rumination, the food can then progress onto the other stomachs, the reticulum, omasum and abomasum.
Mouth: physically breaks down food by chewing and begins to chemically break down food with digestive enzymes.
Esophagus: carries the bolus from the mouth to the stomach through peristalsis
Rumen: the first chamber of the stomach, a fermentation chamber where plant fiber is broken down into smaller digestible components by bacteria and other microbes.
Reticulum: the second chamber of the stomach, at times cattle can swallow foreign material like rocks, nails, small pieces of wire, which are collected here however not broken down or removed of.
Omasum: The omasum is the third compartment of the cow’s stomach. Its walls are covered with large amounts of folded tissue, which provide a wide absorption surface. This surface absorbs water and nutrients such as potassium and sodium.
Abomasum: the fourth chamber of the stomach, he main function of the abomasum is to digest protein from both feed and ruminal microbes. Gastric juices, produced in abomasum, accomplish this.
Small Intestine: The small intestine is the part of the intestines where 90% of the digestion and absorption of food occurs, the other 10% taking place in the stomach and large intestine. The main function of the small intestine is absorption of nutrients and minerals from food.
Large Intestine: The function of the large intestine is to absorb water from the remaining indigestible food matter and move the useless waste material from the body.
Esophagus: carries the bolus from the mouth to the stomach through peristalsis
Rumen: the first chamber of the stomach, a fermentation chamber where plant fiber is broken down into smaller digestible components by bacteria and other microbes.
Reticulum: the second chamber of the stomach, at times cattle can swallow foreign material like rocks, nails, small pieces of wire, which are collected here however not broken down or removed of.
Omasum: The omasum is the third compartment of the cow’s stomach. Its walls are covered with large amounts of folded tissue, which provide a wide absorption surface. This surface absorbs water and nutrients such as potassium and sodium.
Abomasum: the fourth chamber of the stomach, he main function of the abomasum is to digest protein from both feed and ruminal microbes. Gastric juices, produced in abomasum, accomplish this.
Small Intestine: The small intestine is the part of the intestines where 90% of the digestion and absorption of food occurs, the other 10% taking place in the stomach and large intestine. The main function of the small intestine is absorption of nutrients and minerals from food.
Large Intestine: The function of the large intestine is to absorb water from the remaining indigestible food matter and move the useless waste material from the body.