Why do cows chew their cud?

A ruminant is any animal with a specialized four-compartment stomach that allows it to obtain nutrients from plant-based foods.

The four parts of a ruminant digestive system are the Rumen, Reticulum, Omasum, and Abomasum.

Cud is partly digested food returned from the first stomach of ruminants to the mouth for further chewing.

Many animals used for agricultural purposes are ruminants, such as cattle, sheep, and goats. Other ruminants are: elk, moose, deer, giraffe, antelope, and more!

Humans have a monogastric digestive system, which means we have a single stomach.

Ruminants have a four-part stomach while animals with monogastric digestive systems have a one-part stomach. Ruminants chew their food multiple times through regurgitation, while humans chew their food only once.

Ruminants are able to obtain nutrients from plant-based sources that humans and other animals cannot. The enzymes in a ruminant stomach allow them to break down a variety of grains and grasses.

Cattle have many differences from humans. Cattle have tails and horns and walk on four legs with hoofed feet, just to name a few!

Cows chew their cud because they have a specialized digestive system that requires them to regurgitate their food and break it down further by re-chewing it. Chewing cud also produces saliva which is important for controlling the acidity inside their stomach - which is important for being able to digest grasses and fiber.