How can cows digest cellulose

The relationship between a cow and the cellulose digesting bacteria is a symbiotic one, meaning both parties benefit. The cow provides the bacteria a warm, moist environment with a constant supply of food. The bacteria enable the cow to access the nutrients in their cellulose-rich diet and provide a protein source.

By using the site, you agree to the uses of cookies and other technology as outlined in our Policy, and to our Terms of Use. The Fermentation Vat Inside A cow, or any ruminant, has four compartments in her stomach. It Takes All Types Bacteria do most of the digestive work in the rumen, but protozoa and fungi assist. Rapid Multiplication to Survive The cow digests the nutrients released by the microbes. A Mutually Beneficial Arrangement The relationship between a cow and the cellulose digesting bacteria is a symbiotic one, meaning both parties benefit.

Next, food passes into the small intestine where the breakdown continues and where the body absorbs nutrients. This basic digestive process is also true of cows, but there are a few extra steps along the way. Cows are unique in that they have fewer teeth than other animals. In the front of the mouth, teeth known as incisors are only located on the bottom jaw. In addition, cattle have a relatively immobile upper lip compared to goats and sheep.

Because of this unique oral anatomy, a cow uses its tongue to grasp a clump of grass and then bite it off. Teeth in the back of the mouth known as molars are located on the top and bottom jaws. Plant materials sometimes contain tough stems, but because a cow chews food in a side-to-side motion, the molars shred the grass into small pieces that are more easily digested.

Diagram 1. Diagram 2. Use the letters that label the stomach parts in Diagrams 1 and 2 to identify the similarities and differences between the two stomachs. Notice that the letters do more than identify the structures; they also map the path food travels on its digestive journey.

In the cow, rather than having a single pouch, there are four interconnected pouches, each with a unique function. When a cow first takes a bite of grass, it is chewed very little before it is swallowed. This is a characteristic feature of the digestion in cows.

Imagine a large gallon trashcan. In a mature cow, the rumen is about the same size! Its large size allows cows to consume large amounts of grass. After filling up on grass, cows find a place to lie down to more thoroughly chew their food. The reticulum is directly involved in rumination. Ithaca: Comstock Press, Benedict, C. Dunkle, Richard L.

Dwyer, Johanna. Kleiner, Susan M. Slavin, Joanne L. Books Brett, C. Physiology and Biochemistry of Plant Cell Walls. London: Unwin Hyman, Periodicals Benedict, C.

Young, Stephen. Anaerobic —Describes biological processes that take place in the absence of oxygen. Cell wall —The tough, outer covering of plant cells composed of cellulose microfibrils held together in a matrix. Cellulose synthetase —The enzyme embedded in the plasma membrane that synthesizes cellulose.