Characteristics of digestive organs of cattle

Cattle are herbivores, the volume of the stomach is very large, divided into four stomachs. The first three stomachs (rumen, reticulum, valvular stomach) have no digestive glands on the stomach wall, and the fourth stomach (abomasum) can secrete gastric juice, also known as the true stomach. Rumen is the largest, although it can not secrete digestive juice, but it can strongly contract and relax, carry on rhythmic peristalsis, in order to stir food. There are many papillary processes on the rumen mucosa, which are called "mucosal nipples" and are particularly developed, which contribute to the kneading and grinding of food. There are a large number of microorganisms and ciliates in the rumen. The life metabolic activities of many microorganisms and ciliates play an extremely important role in the decomposition of food and the synthesis of nutrients.