The average cow takes about 890 bites per hour over an eight hour day! (1)
This page will focus on the feeding habits of Holstein and Jersey Cows. Holstein cows are the black and white cows typically pictured. Jersey cows are the brown cows with spots of white, as shown above.
This page will focus on the feeding habits of Holstein and Jersey Cows. Holstein cows are the black and white cows typically pictured. Jersey cows are the brown cows with spots of white, as shown above.
HOW THEY EAT
Cows are a very unique animal in that they are ruminants. An animal that is a ruminant means that they regurgitate their food, this food is known as 'cud.' The cud is about a baseball size portion of the grass or hay that they had earlier swallowed (2).
Cows first start the process of eating by putting their head down to the ground, about two inches above the soil because of how their face is shaped. This is why the ideal height of grass is six inches, because any more than that amount, or any less than that amount results in an in-balance of energy consumption than they need (1). As the cows start to lift their head up, they wrap their long tongues around the plant part and pull the food into its mouth as it pulls its head back up. The cow then chews the grass for a very short amount of time and swallows, which will later turn into 'cud.'
Cows are a very unique animal in that they are ruminants. An animal that is a ruminant means that they regurgitate their food, this food is known as 'cud.' The cud is about a baseball size portion of the grass or hay that they had earlier swallowed (2).
Cows first start the process of eating by putting their head down to the ground, about two inches above the soil because of how their face is shaped. This is why the ideal height of grass is six inches, because any more than that amount, or any less than that amount results in an in-balance of energy consumption than they need (1). As the cows start to lift their head up, they wrap their long tongues around the plant part and pull the food into its mouth as it pulls its head back up. The cow then chews the grass for a very short amount of time and swallows, which will later turn into 'cud.'
PHYSIOLOGY OF COW FEEDING
The process of a cow eating is not as simple as leaning down and biting, it is much more complex than most people think. There is a common misconception that a cow has four stomachs, in actuality, there are four parts to a cows stomach that all act in different ways. When a cow first swallows its food, it goes into the rumen (4). This 'sack' is why cows get the name ruminants. After grazing for hours, the cow then finds a place to rest and the regurgitation of their food happens. This is when the reticulum comes into play (4). The reticulum forces the food from the rumen into the esophagus, and thus back into the cows mouth (4). They then get to chew their food better, which helps them to better digest the food that they had taken in. The omasum also aids the rumen by acting as a filter for the rumen, by allowing water to pass through, but keeping the plant particles inside the rumen to ensure maximum nutrients for the cow (4). The last part of the cows stomach is the abomasum, which acts like the human stomach does (2).
The process of a cow eating is not as simple as leaning down and biting, it is much more complex than most people think. There is a common misconception that a cow has four stomachs, in actuality, there are four parts to a cows stomach that all act in different ways. When a cow first swallows its food, it goes into the rumen (4). This 'sack' is why cows get the name ruminants. After grazing for hours, the cow then finds a place to rest and the regurgitation of their food happens. This is when the reticulum comes into play (4). The reticulum forces the food from the rumen into the esophagus, and thus back into the cows mouth (4). They then get to chew their food better, which helps them to better digest the food that they had taken in. The omasum also aids the rumen by acting as a filter for the rumen, by allowing water to pass through, but keeping the plant particles inside the rumen to ensure maximum nutrients for the cow (4). The last part of the cows stomach is the abomasum, which acts like the human stomach does (2).
GRAIN VS. CATTLE
A debate has recently arose in regard to industrial farmers and what they are feeding their cows. The issue is that these farmers are feeding the cows mainly corn and soybeans that the government provides subsidies for, which means that the cows have a mainly grain diet (3). A reason that the government funds these subsidies is because they are a cheap way to bring animals to the correct weight for the cheapest price, making it possible for the consumer to reap the cost benefits. The problem with this cost effective option is that cows are not able to handle that amount of grain digestively. Since cows are ruminants, there has been significant studies that have shown since the digestive system is not designed for grain, that the cows health has been impaired by conditions such as liver abscesses, to sudden death syndrome (3).
A debate has recently arose in regard to industrial farmers and what they are feeding their cows. The issue is that these farmers are feeding the cows mainly corn and soybeans that the government provides subsidies for, which means that the cows have a mainly grain diet (3). A reason that the government funds these subsidies is because they are a cheap way to bring animals to the correct weight for the cheapest price, making it possible for the consumer to reap the cost benefits. The problem with this cost effective option is that cows are not able to handle that amount of grain digestively. Since cows are ruminants, there has been significant studies that have shown since the digestive system is not designed for grain, that the cows health has been impaired by conditions such as liver abscesses, to sudden death syndrome (3).
Since some of these studies have come out, there has been a push to find different food options that are not going to be harmful to cows. The video below shows some quirky options that farmers have come up with!
References:
1. "Grass Growth and Regrowth for Improved Management." (2000). Oregon State University. Web. 22 Apr. 2014
2. "Facts about Cows." AIPL's Kids Corner-Cow. Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory. n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014. http://www.aipl.arsusda.gov/kc/cowfacts.html
3. "Animal Feed" Grace Communications Foundation-Food Program. n.d. Web 23 Apr. 2014. www.sustainabletable.org/260/animal-feed
4. "How Cows Eat Grass-Exploring Cow Digestion." U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA. n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/ResourcesforYou/AnimalHealthLiteracy/ucm255500.htm
1. "Grass Growth and Regrowth for Improved Management." (2000). Oregon State University. Web. 22 Apr. 2014
2. "Facts about Cows." AIPL's Kids Corner-Cow. Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory. n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014. http://www.aipl.arsusda.gov/kc/cowfacts.html
3. "Animal Feed" Grace Communications Foundation-Food Program. n.d. Web 23 Apr. 2014. www.sustainabletable.org/260/animal-feed
4. "How Cows Eat Grass-Exploring Cow Digestion." U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA. n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/ResourcesforYou/AnimalHealthLiteracy/ucm255500.htm