The digestive system of a ruminant animal can surprise a person uninitiated in agricultural affairs. So, the digestive system of cows is very voluminous, which is associated with the need to process a large number incoming food. Large stock food is naturally necessary to produce enough dairy products. The quality of the food supplied to the stomach should also be taken into account, since it is usually coarse, hence the need for a large amount of time for the complete breakdown of food.
The stomach of a cow, like that of another, is large cattle, is arranged in a very peculiar way. How many stomachs does a cow have, how does it work in general? digestive system these animals? We will answer these and a number of related other questions below in this article. Each section of the stomach has its own functions. We will also focus on them.
Cows do not particularly bother chewing food, only slightly crushing the absorbed grass. The main part of the feed is processed in the rumen to the state of a fine gruel.
The digestive system of a cow, on the one hand, perfectly and rationally distributes time during grazing, on the other hand, it allows you to maximize all the nutrients from the roughage. If the cow will chew thoroughly every blade of grass plucked, she will have to spend whole days in the pasture and eat grass. During rest, it is worth noting that the cow constantly chews the food that has collected in the rumen and now goes for re-chewing.
The cow's digestive system consists of several sections, differing in function, namely:
The mouth of these animals is especially interesting, since its main purpose is to pluck grass, hence the presence of an exclusively anterior row of lower teeth. Impressive saliva volumes released every day, it reaches about 90 to 210 liters! Enzymatic gases accumulate in the esophagus.
How many stomachs does a cow have? One, two, three, or even four? This will cause surprise, but only one, but consisting of four departments. The first and largest compartment is the scar, and the proventriculus contains a mesh and a fi lament. No less interesting and not quite euphonious name the fourth chamber of the stomach is the abomasum. Detailed consideration requires the entire digestive system of the cow. More details about each department.
Scar
The rumen in a cow is the largest chamber that performs a number of very important digestive functions. The thick-walled scar is not affected by rough food. Every minute reduction of the scar walls provides stirring the eaten grass, subsequently the enzymes distribute them evenly. Here, in addition, tough stems are rubbed. What is the scar for? Let's designate its main functions:
- enzymatic - intracellular bacteria trigger the digestive system, thereby ensuring the initial fermentation process. In the rumen, carbon dioxide and methane are actively produced, with the help of which all food entering the organ is split. In the case of non-regurgitation of carbon dioxide, the animal's belly swells up, and as a result, the rest of the organs malfunction;
- food stirring function - cicatricial muscles contribute to food mixing and its further release for re-chewing. It is interesting that the walls of the scar are not smooth, but with small formations resembling warts, which facilitate the absorption of nutrients;
- transformation function - more than one hundred billion microorganisms present in the rumen, promoting the conversion of carbohydrates into fatty acids, which provides energy to the animal. Microorganisms are classified as bacteria and fungi. Protein and ammonia keto acids are converted by these bacteria.
A cow's stomach can hold up to 150 kg of feed, a huge portion of which is digested in the rumen. Up to 70 percent of the food eaten is found here. Several bags are distinguished in the rumen:
- cranial;
- dorsal;
- ventral.
Probably, each of us noticed that a cow, some time after eating, regurgitates it back for re-chewing. The cow spends more than 7 hours a day on this process! Re regurgitated mass is called chewing gum. This mass is thoroughly chewed by a cow, and then ends up not in the rumen, but in another department - in the book. The scar is located in the left half of the abdominal cavity of the ruminant.
Net
The next section in the cow's stomach is the mesh. This is the smallest compartment, with a volume not exceeding 10 liters. The mesh is similar to a sieve stopping large stems, as in other sections, coarse food will immediately harm. Imagine: a cow chewed the grass for the first time, then the food hit the scar, burp out, chewed again, hit the net. If the cow chewed carelessly and left large stems, then they will be stored in the net for one to two days. What is it for? The food is decomposed and again offered to the cow for chewing. And only then the food gets into another department - the book.
At the grid special function- it separates large pieces of food from small ones. Thanks to the mesh, large pieces are returned to the rumen for further processing. There are no glands in the mesh. Like the scar, the mesh walls are covered with small formations. The grid consists of small cells that define food processing level the previous chamber, that is, a scar. There are no glands in the mesh. How is the mesh connected with other departments - a scar and a book? Quite simple. There is an esophageal groove, resembling a semi-closed tube in shape. To put it simply, the mesh sorts the food. Only enough chopped food can end up in the book.
Book
The booklet is a small compartment that can hold no more than 5 percent of the feed consumed. The volume of the book is about 20 liters. It is only here that the repeatedly chewed cow food is processed. This process is supported by the presence of numerous bacteria and potent enzymes.
It is no coincidence that the third section of the stomach is called a book, which is associated with appearance department - continuous folds, divided into narrow chambers. The food is arranged in folds. The digestive tract of the cow does not end there - the incoming saliva processes the food, fermentation begins. How is the food in the book digested? Feed distributed in folds, and then dehydrates. Moisture absorption is carried out due to the peculiarities of the net structure of the book.
The booklet performs an important function in all digestion - it absorbs food. By her own the book is quite voluminous, but it contains a small amount of food. All moisture and mineral components are absorbed in the book. What does the book look like? On an elongated bag with numerous folds.
The book is like a filter and shredder of large stems. In addition, water is sucked in here. This department is located in the right hypochondrium. It is connected with both the mesh and the abomasum, that is, it continues the mesh, passing into the abomasum. The shell of the third section the stomach forms folds with small nipples at the ends. The abomasum is elongated in shape and resembles a pear, which is thickened at the base. Where the abomasum and omasum meet, one end connects to the duodenum.
Why does a cow chew food twice? It's all about the fiber found in plants. It is difficult and time-consuming to process, which is why double chewing is necessary. Otherwise, the effect will be minimal.
Abomasum
The last part of the cow's stomach is the abomasum, which is similar in structure to the stomachs of other mammals. A large number of glands, constantly secreting gastric juice are features of the abomasum. Longitudinal rings in the abomasum form muscle tissue... The walls of the abomasum are covered with a special mucus, consisting of the epithelium, containing the pyloric and cardiac glands. The mucous membrane of the abomasum is formed from numerous elongated folds. The main digestive processes take place here.
Huge functions are assigned to the abomasum. Its capacity is about 15 liters. Here food is prepared for final digestion. The book absorbs all moisture from food, therefore, it enters the abomasum already in a dried form.
Let's sum up
Thus, the structure of the stomach of a cow is very peculiar, since a cow does not have 4 stomachs, but a four-chambered stomach, which provides the processes digestive system cows. The first three chambers are an intermediate point, preparing and fermenting the supplied feed, and only in the abomasum contains pancreatic juice completely processing food. The cow's digestive system includes the rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum. Enzymatic filling of the rumen ensures the breakdown of food. The structure of this compartment resembles a similar human organ. The rumen of cattle is very capacious - 100 - 300 liters, in goats and sheep it is much less - only 10 - 25 liters.
Long retention of food in the rumen ensures its further processing and decomposition. In the beginning, cellulose undergoes cleavage, in this it participates a huge number of microorganisms... Microorganisms change depending on the food, so there should not be a sharp transition from one type of food to another.
Fiber is very important for the ruminant organism as a whole, as it provides good motor skills pregastric divisions. The motor, in turn, ensures that the feed moves along gastrointestinal tract... In the rumen, the process of fermentation of fodder masses takes place, the mass is split, and the body of the ruminant animal assimilates starch and sugar. Also in this section protein is broken down and non-protein nitrogen compounds are produced.
The acidity of the environment in the abomasum is provided by numerous glands located on the walls of the abomasum. The food is broken down here into tiny particles, in the future, nutrients are completely absorbed by the body, finished mass moves into the intestines, where the most intense absorption of all useful microelements... Imagine: a cow ate a bunch of grass in a pasture, and the digestion process starts, which ultimately takes 48 to 72 hours.
The digestive system of cows is very complex. These animals must continuously eat, as the break will bring big problems and will have a very negative effect on the health of the cow. Difficult structure of the digestive system It has negative qualities- Upset stomach is a common cause of death in cows. Does a cow have 4 stomachs? No, just one, and the entire digestive system includes the mouth, pharynx, cow's esophagus and stomach.
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Igor Nikolaev
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The cows are constantly chewing. Their lower jaw makes up to 45 thousand circular movements per day. This behavior is due to the structure of the animal's food system. The stomach will not pass the coarse fractions into the intestines, send them back to the oral cavity. The cow grinds them again, so it seems like she is eating all the time. The stomach is divided into 4 sections. Each department performs its own function. What is the anatomy of the bovine digestive system? How does the stomach work?
From oral cavity the roughage enters the rumen through the esophagus. This is the largest part of the stomach. It can hold up to 120 liters. The scar is located on the left side of the abdominal cavity. The fermentation process takes place under the influence of bacteria and microorganisms. As a result, plant food is broken down.
The walls of the scar have no glands. The mucous membrane consists of a stratum corneum of the epithelium, has a dark shade. There are papillae on the walls. They vary in length. The papillae have muscles, so they are mobile. There are glands on them, with the help of which the absorption of food breakdown products occurs: fatty acids, protein breakdown products.
The scar consists of 3 sacs. The one closer to the back is dorsal. The cranial sac is connected to the esophagus. The exit to another part of the stomach, into the booklet, is carried out through the ventral sac. There are gutters between the bags. Through them the food lump passes to another section. All bags are involved in the digestion process. The walls of the departments are constantly being reduced: mechanical grinding of food takes place. Muscles make one movement per second. The peristaltic contraction of the walls will allow the food bolus to enter a specific bag.
The newborn calf drinks colostrum. His scar is not developed, so he should not eat rough food. The introduction of vegetables and hay is done gradually, starting with a small amount. At the end of 1 month, in addition to milk, calves are given 50 g of vegetables, 100 g of hay. The abomasum is most developed in the newborn, in which the breakdown of food occurs under the influence of gastric juice.
Cattle mesh: functions
There is one more section of the stomach in front of the scar - the mesh. The surface of its walls is mucous. There are folds and ridges on the inner surface. Their height is 12 mm. They are mobile. The folds are connected to form a pattern that looks like a honeycomb of bees. At their base, folds of the second order are located. They smaller, are connected to each other in cells. All ridges, walls of folds and bases of cells have papillae, which are covered with coarse epithelium.
The mesh is a bag. Its volume is 10 liters. The mesh has an outlet into the book, into the scar and into the esophagus. Liquid or food crushed to a homogeneous mass passes through this section of the stomach. The mesh filters the feed. It sends the insufficiently processed mass back into the rumen or into the esophagus. Skips the liquid gruel. In calves, the mesh is not developed. It begins to function 2 months after birth.
From the grid, processed food in a liquid state goes into a book. This part of the stomach is connected to the abomasum. The book is located in the subcostal space of the abdominal cavity. Has not big size... The mucous membrane forms folds. They are of various lengths. These are the leaves of a book.
On the surface of the leaves are hard nipples. Small niches are formed between the leaves. They contain one more level of leaves. Near the entrance to the abomasum, the book folds into a large fold, called a sail.
In a book, food is dehydrated. Numerous papillae absorb breakdown products: minerals, saturated acids. This prevents an increase in acidity in the abomasum. The size of the book is larger than the mesh. It holds over 20 liters of feed.
If the cow's gum disappears, then the cause may be a violation not only in the rumen. The absence of chewing gum is a symptom of a disease in other parts of the stomach in a cow, therefore, it is necessary to correctly determine where the cow has a net, book and abomasum.
What to do if the book pathology is noted? In case of violation of the peristalsis of the book, this section of the stomach cannot process the entire amount of food that enters it from the grid. The passage of the food bolus into the abomasum slows down. As a result, a large amount of liquid accumulates in the booklet, which clogs the outlet from the mesh. There is a blockage of the book, the stomach does not work.
Swelling of the scar is noted. This is determined visually: the cow's belly becomes unusually large. In the book, noises are heard that indicate the digestion of food. They listen to the place where the book is located: between 7-9 ribs. The animal is prescribed treatment. As a first aid, he is given Glauber's salt, which will increase the peristalsis of the stomach and has a laxative effect.
Abomasum in cattle
The abomasum is located in the abdominal cavity on the right, between the 9th and 12th ribs. Its volume is 15 liters. In the chamber, food continues to break down under the action of hydrochloric acid and enzymes. Abomasum has the shape of an elongated pear. A thickened gutter connects it to the book. The exit into the duodenum is refined. The mucous membrane of the chamber is covered with epithelium. It contains numerous glands. The muscle walls of the abomasum are smooth and soft. They have large folds that do not move, do not straighten.
The abomasum is the only part of the stomach that functions in the newborn calf. Here, gastric juice is produced, which is able to process cow's milk.
The processed rennet feed passes into the duodenum and small intestine. Further breakdown of food occurs under the action of intestinal juice and certain microflora... This is where the suction takes place nutrients into the blood. The food becomes dehydrated and becomes more solid. The food lump moves through the intestines due to the peristaltic contraction of the muscles of the walls.
Cattle stomach motility
The anatomy of cattle allows to process roughage and break down cellulose cells. The stomach is multi-chambered. The gastrointestinal tract of small ruminants and horses is not able to process coarse food for cellular level... Cellulose and fiber form a lump of food and go out through the anus. How does the stomach work?
Experts identify 2 areas in the stomach of cattle: the proventriculus and the stomach. The rumen, mesh and book belong to the proventriculus. To the stomach itself is the abomasum, which in its functions corresponds to the unicameral organ of other animals. The main function of the proventriculus is mixing roughage, grinding it and removing processed food into the abomasum.
The walls of all parts of the stomach contract in a certain order and have their own rhythm. Failure of the rhythm leads to pathology in the gastrointestinal tract. Food processing and absorption of nutrients will be abnormal. This will lead, first of all, to metabolic disorders.
The reduction of the mesh takes place in 2 stages. At stage 1, it is reduced by 1/3. During this period, the liquid from the net begins to flow into the book, the coarse parts of the feed into the rumen. In stage 2, the mesh is reduced by ¾. All roughage enters the dorsal, upper rumen sac.
At the same time, the muscles of the book and abomasum are relaxed. Liquid homogeneous masses pass from the book into the abomasum and further into the small intestine. Coarse, poorly digested feed remained in the rumen, the groove into the net was reduced. Large fractions cannot get out of the bag. This is how the filtration of liquid and solid feed takes place.
At the same time, there is a reduction in the grooves of all the sacs of the scar. Only the canals are open that connect the scar with the esophagus, the mesh with the esophagus. From this channel, food flows from the esophagus to the mesh. The walls of all sections of the bags are also reduced. Food moves from one department to another. The feed is mixed, the fermentation process is enhanced, and the coarse fractions of food are split.
How many contractions do the stomach wall make? Cyclic contractions of muscle walls 1 min. Pause 25 sec. During this time, the scar makes 12 contractions. The frequency of mesh contractions is 6 times in 5 minutes. The elimination of gas and belching occurs with the coordinated movement of the muscles of the scar, mesh and book. A portion of gases is 0.5 liters. They enter the esophagus and mouth.
How many chewing movements does the cow make? Cattle need to chew food thoroughly so that the stomach lattice passes it into the book and further into the abomasum. Cows chew inconsistently. The frequency of the chewing process is 16 cycles per hour. Each cycle consists of 2 stages.
At stage 1, the animal regurgitates a lump of food and liquid. The total volume of feed that enters the oral cavity at a time is 120 g. At the 2nd stage, food is chewed and swallowed. A cow makes over 100 chewing movements per minute.
If the animals are fed with dry chopped food, the chewing process is shortened in time. The feed is well processed in the rumen; in a softened state, it passes through the net. The muscles of the mesh wall do not contract, and there is no eructation.
The chewing process for cattle is not only necessary for chopping feed. When chewing, the salivary glands begin to work intensively. Food is abundantly wetted with saliva. When swallowed, the entire contents of the oral cavity enter the rumen. Saliva helps to restore the pH balance in the stomach.
The chewing reflex in calves begins to develop from 2 months. At the same time, the grooves of all parts of the stomach begin to open. From 4 weeks old, young animals are allowed to enter roughage.
Timpania in cattle
Animal feeding must be monitored carefully. Poor diet or a large amount of carbohydrate food can cause tympanitis. With excessive gas formation, bloating occurs. The problem can occur in both young animals and adult animals. The abdominal cavity is enlarged on the left side. This means that gases have accumulated in the rumen.
- The animal refuses food: no mood, low mobility, lethargy.
- She stops chewing reflex.
- When tapping on the left side of the animal's body, a booming sound is heard.
- The abdomen is hard, tense.
- When tympanum occurs, soreness occurs. The cow refuses to be milked.
If a large amount of gas has accumulated in the rumen, then it increases in size and begins to put pressure on internal organs: heart, lungs. It is necessary to help the animal as quickly as possible.
What to do if you are tympanic? Veterinarians recommend giving the animal adsorbents or the drug "Tympano": the agent collapses gas bubbles and activates the peristalsis of the muscles of the stomach and intestines. These measures will reduce the amount of accumulated gas and remove them from the rumen. In emergency cases, a scar is punctured, but this can only be done by a specialist. At home, it is recommended to activate the movement of the animal. Drive her around the paddock for a while.
The digestive system of cows is responsible for obtaining from the feed all the substances necessary for the body - proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins, as well as for removing them outside into external environment parts of metabolic products and undigested food debris. Let's get acquainted with the unusual and complex digestive system of these animals.
The structure of the digestive system of a cow
A cow belongs to ruminants that, during grazing, swallow food, practically without chewing, and later, during rest, regurgitate it from the stomach back into the oral cavity and slowly chew it thoroughly. That is why, observing a resting cow, you can notice that she chews almost all the time. This feeding method helps the animal to effectively use the feeding time and extract the maximum amount of valuable substances from plant foods.
Did you know? Man tamed the cow about 8 thousand years ago. If today we place all living people on one side of the scale, and all cows and bulls on the second, then the total weight of the “horned” ones will almost three times exceed the weight of the world's population.
A cow's digestive system consists of several parts:
- oral cavity- lips, teeth and tongue. Serves for the capture, swallowing and processing of food;
- esophagus. Connects the stomach to the pharynx, has a length of about 0.5 meters;
- stomach. Consists of four chambers and serves for the digestion and assimilation of food;
- small intestine. Enriches processed food with bile and juices, absorption of useful substances into the blood occurs;
- colon. Serves for additional fermentation of food, the formation and excretion of feces.
Diagram of the digestive organs of cattle: 1 - parotid salivary gland; 2 - the duct of the parotid salivary gland; 3 - pharynx; 4 - oral cavity; 5 - submandibular salivary gland; 6 - larynx; 7 - trachea; 8 - esophagus; 9 - liver; 10 - hepatic duct; 11 - cystic bile duct; 12 - gallbladder; 13 - common bile duct; 14 - mesh; 15 - pancreas; 16 - pancreatic duct; 17 - abomasum; 12 - duodenum; 19 - jejunum; 20 - colon; 21 - ileum; 22 - cecum; 23 - rectum; 24 - scar; 25 - a book; 26 - esophageal groove
Oral cavity: lips, tongue, teeth
With the exception of the teeth, the entire inner surface of the cow's mouth is covered with mucous membranes. The lips, tongue and teeth of the animal located here are used to capture, pluck and grind plant food. The lips and cheeks serve as the vestibule of the mouth and carry out the function of keeping food in the mouth. 
The main element that grasps food is the movable muscular organ - the tongue. With its help, the cow captures and tastes food, helps the process of swallowing and drinking, feels various subjects, takes care of his body and contacts with congeners. On its surface, there are many horny papillae that perform the functions of capturing and licking food.
Teeth are bony enamel organs for gripping and grinding food. The cow lacks canines, instead of which a hard dental plate is located on the upper jaw opposite the lower incisors. This structure allows the animal to effectively nibble on the grass. 
Arcades of the teeth of cattle: 1 - the body of the incisor bone; the bone base of the dental pad; 2 - toothless area (edge); I - incisors; C - canines; P - premolars; M - molars Calves are born with teeth already, the milk jaw has 20 teeth, and the jaw of an adult cow has 32 teeth. The replacement of primary teeth with molars begins at the age of about 14 months.
The cow's upper jaw is wider than the lower one, and the lower jaw is adapted to make lateral (lateral) movements. The molars of the animal form a chisel-like grinding surface, and due to the special movement of the jaws, the process of chewing food while chewing gum is more efficient.
Important! In calves, the ruminant process starts around the third week of their life. In adult cows, chewing gum occurs 30–70 minutes after grazing or feeding, and lasts about 40–50 minutes. The average number of ruminant periods per day is 6–8 times.
Salivary glands and esophagus
Further, food passes through the esophagus, which is a muscle tube about one meter long. In this way, food is first transported from the pharynx to the stomach and then back to the mouth for chewing.
Stomach
The cow has a complex, voluminous stomach, consisting of four chambers:
- scar;
- net;
- book;
- abomasum.
The structure of the stomach of a cow The rumen, net and book do not have glands for the production of gastric juice; fermentation, sorting and mechanical processing of feed takes place in them. Scar
This is the first stomach chamber of a cow with the largest volume - 100-200 liters and even more. The scar is located on the left side of the abdominal cavity, occupying it almost completely, and is inhabited by microorganisms that provide the primary processing of food. 
The scar consists of a double muscle layer - longitudinal and circular, and is divided by a groove into two parts. On its mucous membrane there are many long ten-centimeter papillae. Up to 70% of the entire digestive process takes place in this proventriculus. Decomposition of dry matter occurs due to mechanical mixing and crushing of feed, fermentation with the secrets of microorganisms and fermentation.
Important! The total mass of bacteria and protozoa found in the stomach of an adult cow is more than three kilograms. Thanks to these microorganisms, starchy compounds and cellulose are broken down into simple sugars, which gives the cow the energy she needs.
As a result, various compounds arise, some of which are absorbed into the blood through the scar wall, and then enters the liver, where it undergoes further transformations. They are also used by the udder to synthesize milk components. From the rumen, food enters the mesh or regurgitates into the oral cavity for further chewing.
Net
In the grid, food is soaked, exposed to the action of microorganisms, and due to the work of the muscles, the crushed mass is divided into large fractions that enter the book, and coarse ones that go to the rumen. The grid got its name due to its cellular structure, capable of retaining large fractions of food. 
This department actually performs the function of sorting and in terms of its volume - up to 10 liters - is much inferior to the rumen. It is located in the chest area, in front of the scar, touching the diaphragm with one of its edges.
In addition, the mesh activates the belching process, passing the crushed particles and returning large ones to the esophagus and then the oral cavity.
Book
This chamber with a volume of 10–20 liters is intended for mechanical crushing of feed that is re-swallowed by animals after chewing. It is located in the abdominal cavity on the right, in the region of the 7-9 ribs of the animal. This proventriculus got its name because of the structure of the mucous membrane, which is represented by numerous folds in the form of leaves.
This part of the stomach continues the processing of already crushed coarse fiber fibers, where their final grinding and transformation into gruel that enters the abomasum takes place.
Abomasum
Abomasum with a volume of 5–15 liters is located in the abdominal region on the right, occupying space in the area of the 9–12 intercostal space.
It works especially actively in calves, since the rest of the stomach is not yet involved. Before solid feed enters the body, liquid feed - milk - immediately enters the true stomach through the gutter.
Only from the third week, when coarse components appear in the diet of young animals, belching starts, microflora populates, and a fermentation reaction occurs.
Small intestine
Leaving the stomach, processed food enters the small intestine, which consists of three main parts:
- duodenum (90-120 cm);
- jejunum (35–38 m);
- ileum (about 1 m).
Did you know? Cows were forced to become ruminants. They could not quickly escape from the enemy and did not have strong fangs or claws, so they developed their own way of eating: to swallow as quickly as possible without chewing, but to chew and digest later in a calm atmosphere.
The enzymes secreted by the pancreas and intestinal lining process carbohydrates, fats, and protein. Bile, which enters the duodenum through the bile duct, assists in the absorption of fats and prepares the digestive products for absorption.
The cow is a very valuable and widespread animal in household and on farms. It is grown for the purpose of obtaining milk and meat. For high productivity, the cow should be properly and satisfyingly fed. To avoid problems with the digestive system, it is important to know the structure of the cow's stomach and the reasons for stopping it from working, which often happens. Read about this in the article.
Digestive system
The cow is a herbivore, the stomach of which, in the course of evolution, has adapted to the digestion of food with a high content of plant fibers. Along with the organs, bacteria evolved, the habitat of which is the digestive tract.
Microorganisms have developed their own ecosystem of protozoa, fungi and bacteria, which get along well with their host. For example, in the initial section of the stomach of a cow (rumen), a large number of different types bacteria and protozoa. The first have 60 items, the second - 30. The composition of the cow includes the oral cavity, esophagus, intestines and stomach.
How does the stomach work?
Many people are interested in, Some believe that four. But this is not the case. The organ is the same, like in other animals, but it has complex structure... The stomach of a cow, according to the anatomical structure, has four sections, but gastric juice is only in the last. The first three chambers are intermediate points where the food that the cow has chewed is prepared and fermented. Do not be surprised at the number of stomach sections. All of them are very important, and each performs its own function, because the animal releases 100-200 liters of saliva in one day, which should have a storage space.
Digestion is a slow process. A cow can chew food for six to eight hours before it is in the stomach. The eaten food is here for several hours or more than two days, it depends on how much cellulose is contained in the food.
Scar
This is the first, or initial, section of the stomach of a cow, it is the largest in size. Everything that she ate, which is practically unchewed food, ends up here. The cow's initial stomach stores 80% of all food eaten. In general, it holds 150 kg of feed.
The walls at the initial part of the cow's stomach are thick enough, so they are not affected by tough pieces of plant food, which the cow has not chewed well. Once a minute, the walls contract, stirring the grass to distribute the enzymes evenly. At the same time, the tough stems are rubbed and softened.
The main condition is her grazing. The grass eaten at this time is in the initial section of the cow's stomach. But after grazing, the food begins to regurgitate in small portions and is chewed again by the animals. This mass is called chewing gum. Softened under the influence of enzymes, it is thoroughly rubbed with teeth and again swallowed by the cow. But it gets into another part of the stomach, into a book.
The walls of the scar are covered with small growths. Their task is to absorb from food as many useful substances as possible, which are the product of the fermentation process, which is carried out with the participation of saliva and huge amount bacteria that are good for the body. Their number is 150 billion.
Net
Among the sections of the stomach of a cow, the second is a mesh, consisting of many cells. This is one of the smallest sections (up to 10 liters in volume), connected to the scar. Here, processes such as digestion and fermentation continue. The walls of this section have strong muscles that are able to mix the contents of the stomach, facilitating another process - the fermentation of nutrients. The grid, like a lattice, does not allow large stems to pass further, to the location of more delicate ones that can be injured by coarse food.
The first time the chewed food, which is in the rumen, is regurgitated, and again enters the oral cavity for further grinding with the teeth. This occurs when coarse cellulose fibers, which are difficult for bacteria to digest, accumulate in a certain amount in the stomach. But if there are large particles in the food, the mesh retains them for 20-48 hours. During storage in this part of the stomach, its contents are completely modified. The food becomes suitable for further grinding before it enters the next section.
Book
Chewed food enters this section, which is considered the third in the stomach. Here the absorption of water, fatty acids, and other substances necessary for nutrition takes place. This section is small, it contains 5% of the eaten feed, which is 20 liters in volume. Here, the chewed gum is processed further thanks to the potent bacteria and aggressive enzymes that are in this section.
Abomasum
One of the parts of the stomach of a cow is the abomasum. It is designed to perform a wide variety of functions. Its capacity is 15 liters of food, which is finally prepared for digestion. This section serves as a normal stomach. Here, the food that has undergone the fermentation process in the first three sections is digested due to the action of the acid and enzymes of the animal itself.
How many stomachs does a cow have? The animal has one organ, but its structure is complex. The last section receives food in a dried form, which is mainly absorbed while in the book. The abomasum of a cow's stomach is similar in structure to a human organ. Its walls have glands in large numbers that secrete a juice called gastric juice. It has the highest acidity index in comparison with other departments.
In the abomasum, food is finally broken down. After the prepared mass enters the intestines, all the substances necessary for nutrition are absorbed from the small particles into the body. In the intestine, the absorption process is much more intense. From the moment food enters the stomach and until it is completely digested, it takes two to three days.
The cow's digestive system is complex. The burenka must constantly eat. You should not allow breaks between feedings, otherwise the health of the animal is threatened.
Why does a cow's stomach stop?
The most common reasons why the stomach refuses to work are the following:
- Feeding low-quality food, which is categorically unacceptable. The feed must be fresh and well chopped, otherwise, when it enters the esophagus, the cow feels discomfort, and intestinal stagnation occurs. If vegetables are given to the animal, they need to be grated or chopped with a knife. When feeding corn, it should be peeled. With regular malnutrition, the cow will swallow food quickly and in large portions during feeding, which leads to stomach stoppage.
- organ, there may be a sudden fright, during which the esophagus narrows. It can also happen if the cow has leukemia, tuberculosis or neurological disorders.
- The stomach can stop if the cow has swallowed a hard foreign object, such as a stone, nail.
The stomach of a cow has stopped - how to start?
If the reason is the ingress of a foreign object into the esophagus, you can deal with it on your own, without the help of a veterinarian. To do this, the cow should be tied to a tree and a wedge inserted between the teeth so that the jaws do not close. Then wrap your hand with a towel and take out the item.
This can be done using a probe that is inserted into the animal's esophagus. The swallowed object is easily pushed by it. In order for the probe to pass freely, any vegetable oil... You can pour in water at the same time. If the probe is not at hand, you can use a rubber hose with a diameter of no more than 3.5 cm, as long as its edges are round. Do not use a stick, it can cause injury to the esophagus.
When kept at home, you can force the animal to stretch out its tongue. When this happens, irritate him by inducing vomiting. The animal may spit out the swallowed object. If the cow is eating unprocessed feed, this indicates that the pancreas have stopped working. In this case, you should contact your veterinarian.
Launching the stomach with folk remedies
If it was not possible to push through the swallowed object or eliminate the cause of the stomach stoppage due to the cow's consumption of poor-quality feed, due to the lack of medicines in the first-aid kit, they resort to folk remedies. Recipes for some of them:
- Yeast in the amount of 100 grams must be dissolved in a glass of warm water, let it brew for 30 minutes. Add vodka and sugar in the amount of 200 ml and 100 grams there. The cow should drink the resulting volume of liquid twice a day. Drink the tincture to water the animal for several days.
- Prepare a decoction of yarrow, St. John's wort, flaxseed and give it to the cow twice a day. The stomach will work again.
- Buy a caramel tincture at a pharmacy, dilute it with 0.5 liters of water and pour it into the cow's mouth.
- Important! Many cow health problems can be avoided if the cow is properly cared for and fed.
What to feed?
In order for the cow food consumed to be well absorbed and not to harm the stomach, the animal must be properly fed. A diet is considered balanced if it consists of the following ingredients daily:
- Cellulose fibers, which are rich in fresh grass, hay, silage.
- Grains of corn, oats, barley, soybeans, the use of which energizes the cow's body.
- By-products produced by the food industry: pulp of oranges and beets, molasses.