Cows are common domestic animals, and everyone knows they have four stomachs; they are multi-stomached ruminants . However, many people are unclear about which of these four stomachs is the actual stomach. Let's find out.
A cow has four stomachs, but which one is the real stomach?
As ruminants, cattle have four stomachs: the rumen, reticulum, and omasum are esophageal variations, while only the last one, the abomasum, is the true stomach.
Different stomach functions of cattle
1. Rumen
The rumen, the first stomach of a cow, also known as the "grass stomach," is a digestive organ unique to ruminants. It has a very strong ability to break down fibrous materials, making up 80% of the entire stomach and being the largest stomach, mostly located on the left side of the abdomen. The rumen is a crucial digestive organ unique to cattle and other ruminants; therefore, a thorough understanding of its characteristics and functions is essential for raising healthy cattle.
2. Reticulum
The reticulum is a cow's second and smallest stomach, accounting for only 5% of the total stomach volume. Also known as the "honeycomb stomach" or "money belly," it is located in front of the rumen. In reality, the rumen and reticulum are not completely separate, allowing feed to move freely between them. The reticulum has a honeycomb-like structure, functioning like a sieve; heavy objects ingested by the cow, such as stones, nails, or wire, will be trapped inside.
3. Omasum
The omasum, also known as the third stomach of a cow, accounts for 7% of the total stomach and connects to the reticulum and abomasum. The omasum's surface mucosa forms many lobes of varying sizes. Its main function is to block and grind the rougher parts of the food, transporting the thinner parts to the abomasum, while also absorbing large amounts of water and acid. The omasum is particularly prone to blockage, a condition known as "dry omasum," with a higher incidence in winter and spring. The main causes are prolonged feeding of powdery or low-quality feed containing large amounts of sand or dirt, or insufficient water intake.
4. Abominable stomach
The abomasum is the fourth stomach of a cow, accounting for 8% of the total stomach. It is also called the true stomach because it is equivalent to the stomach of a monogastric animal. It has digestive glands that can secrete digestive enzymes to break down proteins in feed, but it does not digest and absorb fats, starches , cellulose, etc. The abomasum is prone to ulcers. The main causes of the disease are related to excessive acidity of the feed, autodigestion disorders, and other factors that stimulate the abomasum.
