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 ...

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 ...

In view of the recent interest in studying the nutrition of wild ruminants in their natural habitats, methods are discussed which by application to killed animals in the field can provide information ...

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 ...

Why does a kangaroo expel less methane than a cow? Researchers decided to investigate -- and discovered that the emission of this climate-damaging gas in kangaroos is linked to how long food is ...

Smaller-bodied ruminants forage primarily for the highest energy intake, while equids -- which tend to be larger -- choose to forage in areas close to surface water, with less attention to forage ...

The digestive systems of mammals exemplify a remarkable spectrum of adaptations that have evolved in tandem with dietary specialisations. These adaptations encompass both morphological ...