Ruminant stomachs have four compartments: the rumen, the reticulum, the omasum and the abomasum. Rumen microbes ferment feed and produce volatile fatty acids, which is the cow's main energy source. Rumen microbes also produce B vitamins, vitamin K and amino acids.

How does food move through the ruminant stomach?

The esophagus functions bidirectionally in ruminants, allowing them to regurgitate their cud for further chewing, if necessary. The process of rumination or “chewing the cud” is where forage and other feedstuffs are forced back to the mouth for further chewing and mixing with saliva.

How does a 4 chambered stomach work?

Deer have a four-chambered stomach. ... The rumen allows for the deer to gather a lot of food at once and then digest it later. The deer bring the food back up into their mouth and Page 2 chew it again. This process is called chewing their cud.