ANATOMY

Detailed explanation-1: -Ruminant stomachs have four compartments: the rumen, the reticulum, the omasum and the abomasum . Rumen microbes ferment feed and produce volatile fatty acids, which is the cow’s main energy source. Rumen microbes also produce B vitamins, vitamin K and amino acids.

Detailed explanation-2: -The ruminant stomach has 4 compartments: 1) rumen, 2) reticulum, 3) omasum, and 4) abomasum (Van Soest, 1994). Pregastric fermentation and breakdown of feeds occurs in the rumen, reticulum, and omasum, whereas the abomasum is the true stomach and is similar in structure and function to the non-ruminant stomach.

Detailed explanation-3: -Cows are known as “ruminants” because the largest pouch of the stomach is called the rumen. Imagine a large 55-gallon trashcan. In a mature cow, the rumen is about the same size! Its large size allows cows to consume large amounts of grass.