AP BIOLOGY

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.

Detailed explanation-2: -The cow’s digestive tract consists of the mouth, esophagus, a complex four-compartment stomach, small intestine and large intestine (figure 1). The stomach includes the rumen or paunch, reticulum or “honeycomb, ” the omasum or “manyplies, ” and the abomasum or “true stomach."

Detailed explanation-3: -If you’ve seen sheep or cows grazing in a field, you’ve probably seen them chewing handfuls of grass, hay, or other vegetation. These animals are ruminants, and their four specialized stomach compartments have microorganisms in the rumen area of the stomach that breaks down their food.

Detailed explanation-4: -Digestion systems are classified into four types: monogastric, avian, ruminant, and pseudo-ruminant.

Detailed explanation-5: -Monogastric species – such as poultry, pigs and fish – are more reliant on grains and pulses that compete for land that could grow human food. Ruminant species – such as sheep, cattle and goats – rely more on grasses and forages that are inedible by humans.