How Many Stomachs Does a Cow Have?

Home Science 12 September 2011 10846 Views
How Many Stomachs Does a Cow Have?

Cows have 4 digestive department inside a cows stomach region. These digestive departments names are rumen, reticulum, omasum, abomasum.

Cow stomach

The Anatomy of a Cows Stomach

1. The Rumen – this is the largest part and holds upto 50 gallons of partially digested food. This is where the ‘cud’ comes from. Good bacteria in the Rumen helps soften and digest the cows food and provides protein for the cow.

2. The Recticulum – this part of the stomach is called the ‘hardware’ stomach. This is because if the cow eats something it should not have like a peice of fencing, it lodges here in the Recticulum. However, the contractions of the reticulum can force the object into the peritoneal cavity where it initiates inflammation. Nails and screws can even peroferate the heart. The grass that has been eaten is also softened further in this stomach section and is formed into small wads of cud. Each cud returns to the cows mouth and is chewed 40 – 60 times and then swallowed properly.

3. The Omasum – this part of the stomach is a ‘filter’. It filters through all the food the cow eats. The cud is also pressed and broken down further.

4. The Abomasum – this part of the stomach is like a humans stomach and is connected to the intestines. Here, the food is finally digested by the cows stomach juices and essential nutrients that the cow needs are passed through the bloodstream. The rest is passed through to the intestines and produces a ‘cow pat’. Source 1

15 Responses to “How Many Stomachs Does a Cow Have?”

  1. Molly says:

    Thank you for explaining this.

  2. abby says:

    cows have 4 stomachs yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Cool ha

  3. mina says:

    that is nasty and you are too

  4. melissa says:

    Cool and so r u

  5. issah says:

    great scientist you are i will be happy if you will continue teaching me science

  6. Michelle says:

    This is so cool! I like this it is not disgusting. I know people can lie that this is not cool. But, awesomeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

  7. lucy says:

    who ever said they have 4 stomaches are wrong they have 1 with 4 compartements!!!

  8. chris says:

    thanx for helping me understand

  9. snorf says:

    They’re ruminants. They eat grass. Why are we feeding them corn?!

  10. Obebh Nestor says:

    Wow. Tanx 4 dis

  11. ME says:

    chickens are awesome and will one day be rulers of all….watch out and i am cray-cray and have the attention span of a-…..what the hell am i saying idk i have to go eat my dinner…..(its a fly)

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