Tag: Rumen

Vitamin B12, or cobalamin, is a complex vitamin that neither plants nor animals can produce on their own; instead, it is synthesized exclusively by certain bacteria and archaea. For cows, this vital nutrient doesn't come directly from their plant-based diet, but rather from the powerful microbial ecosystem that flourishes within their rumen. This unique digestive process transforms the mineral cobalt into the vitamin their bodies can use.

In a remarkable display of biological engineering, a cow's stomach is a powerhouse where trillions of microbes supply a significant portion of the animal's nutritional requirements. This extraordinary symbiotic process is the key to understanding how cows turn carbs into protein, transforming indigestible plant matter into vital amino acids for their body's needs.