How many stomachs in cows: features of digestion

The everyday notions of the structure of the body of some animals sometimes cause quite logical astonishment in more enlightened people. For example, the provocative question "How many stomachs does a cow have?" Can be extremely surprising to those who are used to thinking logically that all higher mammals have a completely standard digestive system, equipped with a single stomach.

Nevertheless, the structure of the digestive organs of a living being largely depends on its way of life and diet, so that not everything is so unambiguous in the ruminant herbivores, which includes the usual domestic cow.

Four stomachs of a cow: causes of delusion

In many respects, the knowledge of the average rural resident, not burdened with academic education, is based on his own experience. And they have more experience in the slaughter of cattle than in urban cattle. After the slaughter of the cow, you can make sure with your own eyes that the question "How many stomachs do cows have?" Is not idle - you can clearly see four different departments, and this can not but lead to a dead end.

If, after this, the average city dweller should say that the villagers know better and have seen with their own eyes that the cow has four stomachs, then there are hardly any questions or doubts. The school program, if it is not directly related to daily activities, is not kept in the head for a long time. That is why all sorts of incidents with information about the internal structure of farm animals are possible.

How many stomachs in cows

What do you believe - your eyes or academic data? How to navigate in contradictory information? The answer to the question "How many stomachs do cows have?" Is extremely simple - these animals have only one stomach, but it is multi-chambered, that is, it consists of four divisions. This is a scar, a net, a book and abomasum.

At the same time visually, in the evacuation of carcasses, one can really make sure that this is not just a muscular digestive bag, as in predators or omnivores. The four-chambered stomach allows cows and other ruminant animals to feed on coarse plant matter, extracting from it the maximum of nutrients.

Features of the digestion of a cow

Cattle can be called ideal vegetarians. They really do well without protein supplements of animal origin, if there is a sufficient amount of green mass in the diet. Considering from a practical point of view, what kind of stomach the cow has, one can only be surprised at the rational and peculiar arrangement of the digestive system of this animal.

The instinct of self-preservation prescribes to herbivores as quickly as possible to eat a large amount of plant mass, but the process of digestion is better to do in a safer place. The largest part of the stomach is a scar, it is here that almost uneaten parts of plants are eaten by a cow. A solid portion of the food from it regurgitates back into the mouth for thorough chewing. If you swallow again, the chewing gum is already in the net, not the scar.

Some experts in response to the question "How many departments in the stomach of a cow?" Called a scar, a net and a book with pancreatic, because the full process of digestion takes place in abomasum. But at the same time the correct answer remains academic - the stomach has one cow, and it consists of four departments.

How to adjust the ration of a cow taking into account the structure of the stomach

Is it necessary to somehow correct the ration of the animal, especially after the host finds out how many departments in the stomach of the cow? Undoubtedly, this must be taken into account, especially in the winter, when free grazing is impossible and the animal is at stall maintenance.

The unique internal structure of the cow suggests that for some time the animal spends on methodical chewing gum - hard undigested vegetable parts. This process contributes to good digestion, if the cow does not chew gum, it means that it is not feeling well, or the diet just does not give it such a possibility.

A wet mash from a mixed fodder is a perfect calorie feed that promotes milk raising, however, there is practically nothing to chew repeatedly after such a dinner. This reduces the correct balance of microorganisms in the digestive system. In the diet of a cow, you must include hay, some small part of the straw especially for evening chewing gum. This will allow the animal to stay healthy and fully absorb the compound feed, vegetables and silage.