The phenomenon of cattle chewing continuously despite having no food in their mouths is a unique digestive characteristic of ruminants, commonly referred to as ruminant animals. Unlike other types of animals, cattle have four stomachs, differentiated by their functions as the rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum.
Cattle are known as ruminants because their food is not chewed thoroughly.
The differentiation of these stomach types is due to their distinct functions. The food consumed by cattle is not chewed thoroughly but instead moves from the rumen to the reticulum. Through the process of fermentation, the food returns to the mouth, where it is chewed multiple times before being sent to the third stomach—the omasum—before finally being absorbed in the abomasum. This is why cattle are constantly chewing even when they are not grazing.
In addition to cattle, there are other species such as goats, deer, and camels that also exhibit the ruminating phenomenon. The reason these animals ruminate is due to inherited habits that evolved over time; this behavior allows them to consume more food or gradually ruminate during times of food scarcity. In this way, they ensure safety while meeting their nutritional needs.
