Plant-eating animals such as cows, goats, and buffalo are included in the examples of ruminants. Generally, most animals of this type have a unique digestive system.
This unique digestive system is the difference between mammals and ruminants. These differences include the way they eat and the structure of their digestion.
Compiled from various sources, here are explanations and interesting facts about ruminant animals.
1. Plant Eaters
Reported from Sariagri.id, Ruminants are ruminant animals that consume plants as their main food. In biology, plant-eating animals are called herbivores.
Although herbivores eat plants, not all of them fall into the category of ruminants.
In general, ruminants have digestive systems that are more unique than other herbivores, especially for processing their food.
Excerpted from the book Mini Smart Book SMA, Ruminants are a group of animals that chew their food again. That is, the animal has two stages of chewing before the food is digested.
Usually ruminant animals are very easy to find in everyday life. Most of them are animals cattle that can be consumed by humans.
according to BritishExamples of ruminant animals include cows, sheep, goats, antelopes, okapis, giraffes, and so on.
2. Have Two Phases of Chewing Food
As previously mentioned, one of the unique facts about ruminants is that they have two phases to chew or chew food.
In the textbook Animal physiology compiled by Yustina and Darmadi, explained that the chewing process consisted of the first and second phases.
The first phase is when the food enters the mouth and is swallowed, but not chewed. Then the second phase, when the food is released back into the mouth to be chewed until smooth. These two phases of chewing are very important because they help ruminants digest their food.
Please note, ruminants are a group of animals that eat grass or plants. Plant cells are composed of cellulose material is difficult to digest. Therefore, this type of animal requires a two-phase chewing process.
3. The arrangement of molars is more than other mammals
Still quoting from the same book, the average ruminant animal is equipped with a tooth structure for chewing food. For example, like a cow.
As an example of ruminant animals, cows do not have upper incisors and canines. However, cows still have more molars than humans and other animals.
The function of the molars is to chew fibrous food, especially plants which consist of 50% cellulose.
Furthermore, the following is the arrangement of teeth in the oral cavity of ruminant animals that you need to know:
These teeth function to clamp food in the form of plants such as grass.
- Posterior Molar Teeth (Molar)
These teeth are flat and wide. Its function is to facilitate the process of chewing food.
4. Has a Unique Digestive System
Ruminant animals such as cows and goats have a unique digestive system, with a special structure that is different from carnivores and omnivores.
To digest food, ruminants must mobilize the digestive organs in their bodies. These digestive organs are interconnected and work according to their function.
Furthermore, the following organs are used in the digestive mechanism of ruminants:
- Mouth
- Esophagus
- Stomach
- Small intestine
- Colon
- Anus
In the mechanism of the unique digestive system in this example of ruminant animals, the stomach organ has a very important role. The stomach in this type of animal, for example like a cow, consists of 4 parts. Here’s the full explanation:
Rumen
Rumen is the largest part, this organ consists of several sacs. The rumen serves as a place for storing or holding food.
Apart from being a storage area, the rumen is also a place for fermentation. The rumen environment supports microbial growth.
During the first phase of chewing, food is swallowed and enters the rumen. Then, the microbes present will digest the food until it is shaped like a porridge.
Once digested, this food is returned to the mouth to be chewed. Then, the food is swallowed and enters the reticulum.
Reticulum
The reticulum is a pouch-like structure in the front area of the body, close to the heart. The tissue in the reticulum forms a network similar to a honeycomb.
This organ functions for the process of food fermentation, which is assisted by bacteria. In addition, the process of filtering foreign bodies takes place here. Later, only food substances that enter the omasum.
Omasum
Omasum serves to absorb water and other substances from the contents of the digestive tract. Inside the organ there are enzymes that help the digestive process.
Abomasum
Abomasum is the final part of digesting food. Inside the organ, there is a part lined with glands. These glands release hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes, which are needed to break down food.
After the process in the stomach is complete, the food will be sent to the small intestine. The small intestine completes most of the digestive process and absorbs many nutrients. Then, the remnants of food will be passed to the anus.
Thus a discussion of interesting facts, which are owned by ruminant animals. Some examples of ruminant animals other than cattle, include:
- Goat
- Sheep
- Okapi
- Russia
- Deer
- Bull
- antelope
- Giraffe
- Llama
- Bison
Some examples of these ruminant animals consist of several types of derivatives. Although each has a unique physical form, they still have the characteristics of ruminants.
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