Do Cows Really Have Four Stomachs?
Many people who’ve never been near a dairy farm have heard that cows have four stomachs. It’s one of the questions I get asked most often. The answer: Yes and no.
Cows technically only have one stomach, but it has four distinct compartments. It is very different than a human stomach. That’s why people often say that cows have four stomachs.
Parts of a cow’s stomach:
- Rumen – This is the first part of the cow’s stomach. It helps break down complex plant products like grass.
- Reticulum – Here the food mixes with the cow’s saliva and produces cud. Cows burp up the cud into their mouths and chew it to help break it down more. When you see a cow that looks like she is chomping on bubble gum, really she is chewing her cud.
- Omasum – Here all the water is absorbed out of the food.
- Abomasum – Here is where the food is finally digested, similar to what happens in a human stomach.
What exactly is it that goes into our cows’ stomachs?
Our cows are fed a mix of corn silage, hay silage, grain (corn), distillers grains, and soy bean meal. On our farm, we grow the corn, wheat and hay that goes into our cows’ feed.
Speaking of stomachs, check out our dairy recipes that are farm family favorites!
This post was originally published on May 10, 2010 and has been updated with new images.
that is realy cool
Hello,
This was very interesting and helpful. To be perfectly honest I looked up this question because I was watching a game show a the this was an answer, I knew it wasn’t one but I thought it was three. It was interesting to find out why the cows have four different compartments. Thank you for this information blog 😀
Thank you for the info! Very interesting
Thank you for the information! We were trying to figure out how a cows digestive system works!
Really?
Thanks for the clear explanation. I guess you could say it’s easily digested.
excellent explanation thanks
excellent explanation
Many many thanks to those who breed cows and take good care of them.
So…do they have four stomachs or not?
Thank you for the information my students were amazed with the special abilities of the cow’s stomach. Another wonders of God Jehovah’s creation. Again thank you and God bless.
Good Short Article and focused on what the title says. Keep writing!
Cud not have been easier to play udderstand.
No,they don’t have four stomachs.They have one stomach comprising four different compartments!
You have four stomachs
this is interesting!!
no, humans only have one stomach, but is connected to the small intestine and large intestine.