Why do cows and buffaloes eat grass?

Have you ever wondered why cows and buffaloes spend hours in the vedes spaces of farms? The answer is that these types of animals are cattle, ruminants and have a digestive system, specially designed to process large amounts of grass or grasses. That is why the diet of these species (cattle) is mainly based on grasses and forages, which is a very relevant issue in animal production, the ability of these animals to convert low-quality forages into products of high nutritional value is largely due to the unique characteristics of their digestive system.

These species of animals are known as ruminants, because their stomach is formed or divided into four compartments known rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum. In the rumen, there are a great diversity of microorganisms such as bacteria that are responsible for fermenting cellulose, a main component of the cell wall of grasses and that is difficult for other animals to digest. A fermentation process takes place in the rumen that involves the hydrolysis of the components of the plant cell wall, the fermentation of the released sugars and the synthesis of volatile fatty acids (VFA). These VFA produced in the rumen are absorbed through the ruminal wall and used by the animal as an energy source. The circulatory system of ruminants is adapted to transport VFA and other nutrients from the rumen to the liver and other tissues.

In addition to the digestive system, these animals have a series of anatomical and physiological adaptations that allow them to take full advantage of a diet based on grasses and forages, among which are the teeth that are designed to cut and crush grass, these animals do not have upper incisor teeth, but they have a dental pad at the top of the mouth that, together with the lower incisors, allows them to pull the grass. The tongue is rough and prehensile allows them to pull the grass out of the ground.

Understanding why cows and buffaloes eat grass has important implications for food production and environmental conservation, by knowing the nutritional needs of these animal species, we can develop more sustainable feeding practices and improve the quality of dairy and meat products. In addition, the grazing of these species in open areas contributes to maintaining species diversity and improving soil health.

Dear readers, in conclusion, the herbivorous diet of ruminants is a fundamental characteristic of their biology, their unique digestive system, adapted to process large amounts of fiber, allows them to make the most of the nutrients of grass, understanding this process helps us to value the importance of sustainable agriculture and to appreciate the complexity of nature. The ability of cows and buffaloes to digest and efficiently use forages is the result of a coevolution between the animal and its ruminal microbiota, this symbiotic relationship has allowed ruminants to occupy ecological niches that other animals cannot take advantage of, making them a species of great importance for food production and ecosystem conservation.