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How many stomachs do cattle and sheep have? What are their functions?
Cattle and sheep have four stomachs, namely rumen, reticulum, flap stomach and abomasum. Each stomach has different functions, among which abomasum is abomasum, and its function is similar to that of monogastric animals.

Cattle and sheep are common animals in life and belong to mammals. Do they all have them? Ruminating? Therefore, the structure of digestive organs in the body is different from other animals. Both animals have four different stomachs, which are responsible for filtering food, decomposing food, controlling gastric environment and digesting food.

I. Rumen

Cows and sheep have four stomachs. Rumen is the first stomach and the unique digestive organ of ruminants. It is a natural fermentation tank with the ability to degrade fibrous substances, and its epithelium can absorb some active ions and a large number of volatile fatty acids. It is said that the stomach can absorb 75% of volatile fatty acids in food, control the rumen environment and prevent the abnormal gastric environment.

Second, clean the stomach

Reticular tissue is also the most important stomach of cattle and sheep. It has the function of filtering food, similar to a sieve. After these animals eat food, there will be heavy objects in the food, such as nails and wire. These substances will be filtered out after entering the reticular tissue, which can prevent these substances from causing damage to the digestive organs behind.

Third, valvular stomach

The flap stomach is the third stomach of cattle and sheep. It lies on the right side of the anterior abdominal cavity of these animals. There are many lobules of different sizes on the surface of gastric mucosa. It has no digestive glands. The main function of this stomach is to keep the rough dissatisfaction in food, and it will continue to digest these rough parts in this taste. After grinding them, they can be transported to the abomasum below them for further digestion and absorption. During this digestive process, its stomach will absorb a lot of water and acid.

Fourth, abomasum

The abomasum of cattle and sheep is the fourth and most important stomach, which is the real stomach. It can secrete digestive juice and has digestive glands, and the food they eat will be really digested and absorbed in this stomach. It is said that 80% of the food they eat is digested and absorbed in the abomasum, but this stomach of cattle and sheep is particularly prone to ulcers. Cows and sheep will have symptoms such as anorexia, abdominal pain and melena after onset, which need professional veterinary treatment.