Ruminants are mammals which have a stomach system consisting of four chambers. The stomach system are rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasums.
Rumen
This is the first and largest chamber. Swallowed food enters this chamber where it is fermented by anaerobic bacteria which breakdown the cellulose.
Reticulum
When the food reaches the reticulum, it is regurgitated (brought back to the mouth) and chewed again. Food in the reticulum is known as cud.
Omasum
Much of the water in the cud is reabsorbed in the omasum.
Abomasum
This is also known as the true stomach of a ruminant. Gastric secretion in the abomasum digests the proteins in the food. Chyme is formed which moves on to the duodenum Digestion in birds The stomach of birds is divided into two – crop and gizzard. Food is stored in the crop and ground up in the gizzard with the aid of small stones, before it is passed into the intestines.
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