What Is Cud?
Answer – Cud is a semi-digested bolus of food regurgitated from the alimentary canal of an animal to be chewed again.
Explanation:
Cud is produced during the physical digestive process of rumination, which helps sort the digesta (the material being digested) and absorb nutrients. By taking time to re-chew their food later, ruminating animals like cows avoid the need to chew well when they eat. This enables them to quickly ingest large quantities of grass while in the vulnerable head-down position. They push the cud against the palate with the tongue to remove excess liquid, and chew the solid material thoroughly; this allows them to extract the minerals present in the cud brought to the surface during rumination.
