How Cows Make Milk

Reader Contribution by Steve Judge and Bob-White Systems
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Properly fed cows enjoy diets rich in hay and grass. Both are rich in cellulose. This alone is remarkable because cellulose is very difficult to digest. Humans lack the ability to digest cellulose but the digestive systems of cows have evolved specifically to digest it. A diet that includes plenty of grass and long-stemmed hay is critical for keeping cows healthy so they can enjoy good, long lives. We graze our cows on wooded pastures, for example.

The Four Cow Stomachs

Cows are ruminants, which means they have four stomachs or four stomach compartments. Other ruminants include goats, sheep, water buffalo, etc. Each one of the four stomachs plays a different role in digesting food and making milk. 

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