Cows Digestion

[JB]

Why cows have 2 stomachs and how bacteria digest?

[victor]

2? not 4 stomachs? and for the bacteria, do you know why our stomach can't digest grasses?? that's because of the absence of the bacteria...so, I think you know the ansewr..

[MrMistery]

Yes, cows have 4 stomachs. Their names are(in latin, don't know the english names): Rumen, reticulum, omassum and abomassum. The abomassum is the real stomach. The first 2 are big bowls filled with bacteria and protozoans that turn cellulose into glucose via fermenation. Because fermentation produces methane, it is said that some cows exploded from the methane formed after eating too much

[victor]

Abomassum, according to us is the real stomach because it represents our stomach which excretes HCl...in my language it's called "acidic stomach".

[leejo]

This behavior differs markedly between
polygastric and monogastric animals, while cows are classificated as polygastric animals that possess 4 stomachs

[cookie]

Is there any more animals which have 4 stomachs ???

[MrMistery]

Sure, all ruminent herbivores. Sheep, girafe are a few examples

[victor]

do you know the other characteristics of ruminants from their morphology only??

[VeenaandNivyah]

cows have four stomachs, don't they?

[victor]

Yupz..

[Dr.Stein]

I think you need a figure Let Doctor provide it for you
As usual, click the figure to view it full-sized



Victor: No childish figure anymore huh?

[MrMistery]

Dr.Stein, how many bio pictures are there on your hdd?