A bull moose lies down and rests in a mountain clearing during the summer in Montana in Glacier National Park.

Bedded Bull Moose

Montana, USA

High up in the mountains of Montana, a bull moose rests and chews its cud after browsing amongst the alpine vegetation.

In all ruminants, the rumen acts as a big fermentation vat. Fermentation is the breaking down or digestion of food in the absence of oxygen. Bacteria and protozoa in the rumen supply enzymes to break down the fiber in the moose's food. The tiny organisms in the rumen also help to build proteins from the food and manufacture all of the B vitamins needed by the animal.

When roughage is eaten by the moose, it is chewed on, soaked with saliva, and then swallowed. The roughage travels from the esophagus to the rumen, where micro-organisms break down and ferment food particles. At regular intervals, the reticulum forces a bolus of food, called “the cud” back up the esophagus into the moose’s mouth for it to re-chew. It is swallowed again. Eventually, the cud contains very small particles that continue on through the digestive tract. This entire process is called rumination. A moose will chew its cud for about 8 hours a day.

Photo © copyright by Dr. Edward Mikol.

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