Cows

**__//MOO!MOO!MOO!//__** By Brett Cotten

When man discovered that they could domesticate animals instead of chasing after them for resources, cows were found quite useful. They could be used for hide, meats, and dairy. In some places they were worshiped and sacrificed, while in others were slaughtered for meat. They were found just as useful for man as horses and dogs were.

Today, substances in soap, medicine, ice cream(yum) and many other things come from cows. The substance that cows eat is called grass. Cows have a four compartment stomach that allows them to digest the food. Cows barely chew their food before swallowing and they later bring that same food up for more chewing for easier digestion. The food brought back up is called a cud. A cud is formed in compartments 1 and 2 of the cows stomach. After brought up and chewed, the food is sent to it final destination in the cow in compartments 3 and 4 and then disposed of.

Cows are a very large part of the meat and dairy products we consume. The fatter cows are used for beef while the skinnier ones are used for milk(usually black and white). Cows are descended from the mighty ox or oxen in plural. oxen have been extinct for quite some time.

These videos (as well as many more) below can be found at www.realcaliforniamilk.com, the official site of the California Happy Cow commercials and dairy products. Have a nice day!

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