February 3, 2024
THE COW’S FOUR STOMACH
Why do cows spend so much time eating? Cows do not have an
ordinary digestive system. Although it has become popular that cows have
four stomachs, it is more appropriate to say that they have one stomach
but with four chambers. Each chamber has a different function that plays
an important role in digesting food. The grass they eat undergoes a
complicated process before the nutrients are absorbed by the body and
eventually being passed to the other end.
These animals do not even have upper front teeth. They eat grass
by wrapping their tongues around it and pulling it from the ground. They
have back teeth, but they cannot chew grass properly.
Cows swallow grass without chewing it. Once it is swallowed, the
grass goes into the cow’s first stomach called rumen. In the rumen, the
grass is broken up by the digestive juices to soften it. The rumen breaks
down complex plant products like grass into cellulose. Then, the grass is
brought back to the mouth where it is chewed again.
After the food is swallowed, the second time, it goes into the cow’s
second stomach called the reticulum. The reticulum filters the food and
takes out small stones or any nonfood matter. The grass is then formed
into small lumps called cud or bolus. This chamber serves like a safety
mechanism because the nonfood stays here and will not go to the next
chamber. Then, the food goes into the third stomach called omasum.
The omasum filters the food. It is where the processes of pressing
and breaking happen. Any undigested food is sent back to the rumen. It
also regulates fluid absorption in the gut.
Finally, the food goes into the last stomach called abomasum. The
chamber functions like a human stomach where the food is finally digested
by stomach juices. The nutrients are absorbed by the blood and travels to
a bag called udder, where it is made into milk. The rest of the nutrients are
used for the cow’s nourishment.
February 3, 2024
THE COW’S FOUR STOMACH
Why do cows spend so much time eating? Cows do not have an
ordinary digestive system. Although it has become popular that cows have
four stomachs, it is more appropriate to say that they have one stomach
but with four chambers. Each chamber has a different function that plays
an important role in digesting food. The grass they eat undergoes a
complicated process before the nutrients are absorbed by the body and
eventually being passed to the other end.
These animals do not even have upper front teeth. They eat grass
by wrapping their tongues around it and pulling it from the ground. They
have back teeth, but they cannot chew grass properly.
Cows swallow grass without chewing it. Once it is swallowed, the
grass goes into the cow’s first stomach called rumen. In the rumen, the
grass is broken up by the digestive juices to soften it. The rumen breaks
down complex plant products like grass into cellulose. Then, the grass is
brought back to the mouth where it is chewed again.
After the food is swallowed, the second time, it goes into the cow’s
second stomach called the reticulum. The reticulum filters the food and
takes out small stones or any nonfood matter. The grass is then formed
into small lumps called cud or bolus. This chamber serves like a safety
mechanism because the nonfood stays here and will not go to the next
chamber. Then, the food goes into the third stomach called omasum.
The omasum filters the food. It is where the processes of pressing
and breaking happen. Any undigested food is sent back to the rumen. It
also regulates fluid absorption in the gut.
Finally, the food goes into the last stomach called abomasum. The
chamber functions like a human stomach where the food is finally digested
by stomach juices. The nutrients are absorbed by the blood and travels to
a bag called udder, where it is made into milk. The rest of the nutrients are
used for the cow’s nourishment.
Word List Word List
Search for the words in the puzzle that have the Search for the words in the puzzle that have the
same meaning as the given below. same meaning as the given below.

1. first stomach - ______________ 1. first stomach - ______________

2. ball of grass - ______________ 2. ball of grass - ______________
3. second stomach - ______________ 3. second stomach - ______________
4. third stomach - ______________ 4. third stomach - ______________
5. fourth stomach - ______________ 5. fourth stomach - ______________