CLASSIFICATION OF FARM ANIMALS BY STOMARCH TYPES
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A ruminant animal : is a type of mammal that has a unique digestive system capable of breaking
down plant-based food through a process called rumination. Ruminant animals have a stomach with
four compartments, allowing them to ferment and digest tough
plant materials efficiently. Examples of ruminant animals include cows, sheep, goats, and deer.
Characteristics of Ruminant Animals
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Ruminant animals have a stomach that has four parts.
These parts are called the rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum.
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After they eat, they swallow their food, then bring it back up to chew it again.
This process is called chewing the cud.
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Ruminants can break down and digest tough, fibrous plants like grass.
Their stomach helps them process these foods.
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Ruminant animals mostly eat plants, especially grass, leaves, and other plant matter.
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Digestion in ruminants takes longer because their food is chewed and digested in stages.
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Non-ruminant animals : are those that don't have a specialized stomach with
multiple parts. They include animals like pigs, horses, and humans. They eat food, digest it once in a
single stomach, and extract nutrients from it without regurgitating and re-chewing.
Characteristics of Non-Ruminant Animals
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Non-ruminant animals have a stomach with only one part or chamber.
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Unlike ruminants, they do not bring food back up to chew it again.
They simply chew and swallow food once.
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Non-ruminants find it harder to digest tough, fibrous plants like grass.
Their stomachs are not as efficient at breaking down these foods.
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Non-ruminants can eat a variety of foods, including plants, grains, and even animal products.
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Their digestion is quicker compared to ruminants because their stomach processes food faster.
