Household ideas about the body structure of some animals sometimes cause quite logical amazement in more enlightened people. For example, the provocative question "How many stomachs does a cow have?" it may surprise those who are used to logically believing 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 creature largely depends on its lifestyle and diet, so not everything is so simple with ruminant herbivores, which include a regular domestic cow.
Four stomachs of a cow: causes of delusion
In many respects, the knowledge of the average rural resident who is not burdened with academic education is based on his own experience. And they have more experience in slaughtering cattle than urban ones. After slaughtering a cow, you can see for yourself that the question is “How many stomachs do cows have?” not idle - you can clearly see four different departments, and this cannot but bewildering.
If after this the average city dweller says 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 curriculum, if it is not directly related to everyday activities, does not linger in the head for a long time. That is why all kinds of incidents with information about the internal structure of farm animals become possible.
How many stomachs do cows have
What to believe - your own eyes or academic data? How to navigate conflicting information? The answer to the question "How many stomachs do cows have?" extremely simple - these animals have only one stomach, but it is multi-chamber, that is, consists of four sections. This is a scar, mesh, book and abomasum.
At the same time, visually when gutting carcasses, you can really make sure that it is not just a muscular digestive sac, as in predators or omnivores. A four-chamber stomach allows cows and other ruminants to feed on coarse plant matter, extracting maximum nutrients from it.
Digestion Features of a Cow
Cattle can be called ideal vegetarians. They really do fine 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 a cow has, one can only be surprised at the rational and peculiar arrangement of the digestive system of this animal.
The self-preservation instinct requires herbivores to eat a large amount of plant mass as quickly as possible, but it is better to digest the process in a safer place. The largest section of the stomach is the scar; it is here that the practically un-chewed parts of plants eaten by the cow come. A substantial part of the food from it burps back into the oral cavity for thorough chewing. When swallowed again, chewing gum gets already into the net, and not into the scar.
Some experts answer the question "How many departments are there in the stomach of a cow?" they call a scar, a grid and a book the pancreas, because a full digestion process occurs in the abomasum. But at the same time, the academic answer remains the right - the cow has one stomach, and it consists of four departments.
How to adjust the diet of the cow, taking into account the structure of the stomach
Do I need to somehow adjust the diet of the animal, especially after the owner finds out how many departments are in the cow’s stomach? Undoubtedly, this must be taken into account, especially in winter, when free grazing is impossible and the animal is on a stall.
The unique internal structure of the cow suggests that for some time the animal spends on methodically chewing gum - hard undigested plant parts. This process promotes good digestion, if the cow does not chew gum, it means she is feeling unwell, or the diet simply does not give her such an opportunity.
A wet mix of mixed feed is an excellent high-calorie feed, which helps to increase the milkiness of the animal, however, there is practically nothing to chew again after such an evening meal. This reduces the proper balance of microorganisms in the digestive system. It is necessary to include hay in the diet of a cow, some small part of straw especially for evening chewing gum. This will allow the animal to remain healthy and fully absorb feed, vegetables and silage.