Rumination or cud-chewing is the process by which the cow regurgitates previously consumed feed and chews it further. The larger particles in the rumen are sorted by the reticulorumen and reprocessed in the mouth to decrease particle size which in turn increases the surface area of the feed.

How long do cows ruminate for?

A dairy cow in a conventional United States dairy will on average spend between 7 to 8 hours ruminating per day. Rumination time is broken up into several individual bouts throughout the day with each bout lasting from a few minutes to over an hour.

What are ruminating animals?

Ruminants include cattle, sheep, goats, buffalo, deer, elk, giraffes and camels. These animals all have a digestive system that is uniquely different from our own. Instead of one compartment to the stomach they have four. ... When the animal has eaten its fill it will rest and “chew its cud”.