A visit to see our beef cows today just proved how content and happy they are when we were met by so many ‘Chewing the Cud’
What is chewing the cud?
When the cow first eats her feed she chews it just enough to moisten and swallow it. Then the bacteria in the first section of her stomach (a cow has 4 compartments to her stomach), the rumen, gets to work softening the feed and fibre. This softened food is called the cud, and it is sent back up to the cow’s mouth, where it is re-chewed before going back down into her stomach to be fully digested. Chewing cud produces saliva which is important for controlling rumen acidity.
Cows need to be comfortable and relaxed to chew their cud, and usually lie down to do it. They can lie down for very long periods, not to sleep, but just to chew their cud. Dairy cows spend almost 8 hours/day chewing their cuds for a total of almost 30,000 chews daily!
