Ruminating

Some ungulates like Bighorn Sheep are ruminants. Meaning they have a rumen or a false stomach that allows them to gather large amounts of food quickly, especially when they are in the open and more susceptible to predators. Then later they can retire to safer areas to rechew and digest their food.

The rumen is also like a fermentation vat containing millions of microorganisms that help digest the fibrous grasses and shrubs.

The one side effect of ruminating is that the fermentation produces enormous quantities of gas which the sheep get rid of by belching. So next time you see a bighorn chewing its cud listen closely for burps.

Posted on December 5, 2019 05:11 AM by larryhalverson