Cows are notorious for chewing their cud, but did you know this is actually a key part of their digestive process? This chewing of cud, also called “ruminating,” is one feature of an interesting and ...

Eating grass–sounds simple, right? But behind this everyday process lies a highly specialized system in many hoofed animals that is unique. Who would have thought that a cow or a deer needs four ...

This is a preview. Log in through your library . Abstract Because small ruminants (<15 kg) have a high ratio of metabolic rate to fermentation capacity, they are expected to select and require ...

On a recent chilly Summit County evening, my wife and I sat down to a dinner of hot soup, salad and bread. It was a healthy dinner for omnivores like ourselves, but one that required agriculture and ...

Flatulence is one of those universal bodily functions that doesn’t get a lot of attention—except when it’s impossible to ignore. In the animal kingdom, some species are gas-producing machines, while ...

Dear Daktari, I keep a few animals as my retirement project. I was a long distant truck driver and spent a better part of my life on the road. I am concerned about this chewing that my mature animals ...

A lamb and ewe at the UC Davis Sheep Barn. Ruminants such as sheep, goats, cattle and deer are among the most successful and widespread groups of mammals. A new study of genomes of 44 wild and ...

A detailed study of the genomes of 44 species of ruminants gives new insight into the evolution and success of these mammals. A team of researchers has carried out a detailed study of the genomes of ...