Question

Why are grass-eating animals called ruminants?

Answer 1

Ruminants:

1. Grass-eating animals are also referred to as ruminants. For example: - cows, goats and buffaloes eat grass.
2. These animals swallow grass quickly and store some in a sac-like structure called the rumen.
3. Rumen forms the first stomach which is four-chambered. The food which is partially digested is called the cud.
4. Plants contain cellulose in very large quantities. Cellulose is said to be a complex structure which is broken down into simpler particles in the rumen.
5. The process in which the cud returns to the mouth in small lumps in ruminants for chewing is known as rumination.
6. Rumination is aided by the bacteria present in the rumen which causes the breaking down of cellulose in plants. The digested food is then passed further to the reticulum.