Cows are herbivores, meaning they eat grass and other plants. Their special digestive system allows them to break down cellulose–the tougher cell walls of plants–to break down tougher cells.
Their stomach has a special section for fermenting plants, known as the rumen. This area contains bacteria that break down cellulose into simpler molecules for easier digestion.
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Grass is high in carbohydrates
Grass is an essential food source for many animals, such as cows, deer, buffalo, mice, grasshoppers and caterpillars – to name just a few!
Animals such as sheep and deer can obtain most of their nutrition from eating grass alone. However, most livestock feed on a variety of high carbohydrate foods like corn or wheat straw (hay).
Cows consume grass by mixing it with saliva and then swallowing it down their esophagus. The forage then enters their rumen, where bacteria break down the grass into smaller pieces for easier digestion.
The rumen of a cow contains multiple stomach chambers that help it digest grass more quickly. This process, known as rumination, ensures that cows get all of the carbohydrates present in grass that they require for growth and reproduction.
Compared to conventional (grain-fed) beef, grass-fed beef contains fewer saturated fats. The American Heart Association recommends limiting saturated fat intake due to their link to an increased risk of heart disease. Furthermore, grass-fed beef boasts higher levels of omega 3 fatty acids and antioxidants than its conventional counterpart.
Grass is high in protein
Grass is an essential food source for herbivores such as deer, buffalo, cattle and mice. Their roots enable them to survive without water for extended periods of time while their leaves absorb energy from the sun through photosynthesis.
Grass not only contains protein, but it also provides essential vitamins and nutrients for healthy growth and development. These include calcium, iron, zinc, copper, selenium.
Fresh grasses typically contain around 80% crude protein. This can be divided into effective rumen degradable protein (ERDP) and digestible undegradable protein (DUP).
As grass matures, non-protein nitrogen can be converted to true proteins. This increases the protein content of the grass and makes it more nutritious for livestock.
Grass is high in fat
Cows are genetically engineered to eat a grass-based diet. Unfortunately, in order to meet the growing demand for meat protein, many are now being finished on grain-based diets.
Grass is an excellent source of nutrition, particularly fiber and vitamins B and C. Additionally, it boasts high concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, and iron.
Energy for ruminants primarily comes from sugars (starch) and polysaccharides like cellulose, which is difficult to digest and cannot be fully metabolized by them. However, cellulase enzymes found in ruminant gut bacteria may help break down this fiber into usable energy sources.
Grass is rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, which have numerous health benefits for humans. They aid in lowering blood pressure, decreasing the risk of heart disease and asthma, fighting inflammation and improving eyesight. Furthermore, it contains high amounts of antioxidants and iodine as well as being low in calories – making it a healthy food choice. Grass also provides essential vitamins like vitamin A, magnesium potassium and phosphorus which may not be found in standard diets.
Grass is high in fiber
Grass is a type of flowering plant, commonly green in color with leaves that capture light to convert energy through photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis occurs when grass utilizes water to convert carbon dioxide into sugars and other essential nutrients, which are then absorbed by cows and stored as fat.
Cows become fat when they graze on grass due to its high fiber content – more fiber dense than most legumes and other common forage species.
Furthermore, grass fiber is more easily digestible by ruminal microbes than legumes due to its lignified midrib, which acts as a barrier between the leaf blade and stem.
A study comparing milk from cows finished on a 100 percent forage-based diet to those on a grain-based diet found that those finished with grass had significantly lower levels of omega-6 fatty acids and higher concentrations of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in their milk. CLA is an especially heart-healthy fatty acid which may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and other health issues.
