Ruminants are characterized as mammals with hooves who use the process of rumination to digest foods like grass. Dairy cows are an example of ruminants, and are well known for this digestive process, often called “cud-chewing.” While rumination is complex, it mainly consists of chewing, swallowing, regurgitating and re-chewing partially digested food, with the assistance of unique microbes in the stomach!

Sketch by Claudia Lu, Fact by Isabelle McDonald

[Edited by Isabelle McDonald]

Reference:

Russell, J. B., & Rychlik, J. L. (2001). Factors That Alter Rumen Microbial Ecology. Science, 292(5519), 1119–1122. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1058830