A cow eats only grass like other big animals. Why is it so strong and how does it turn grass into muscles?

Gnomon

There is plenty of nourishment in grass, but you need a very specialised digestive system to extract it. The cow has one of the most complicated digestive systems, with something like five different stomachs, for different stages in the process. You only have to examine the end result (cowpats) to see that the cow has been very efficient in digesting totally the grass. This compares with the droppings of other grass-eating animals which always look as if they contain a lot of undigested hay. Aug 26 02, 12:01 PM

Yaarbiriah

To build muscles you need protein. Protein is taken from food, broken down into amino acids and then reconstituted into the proteins the animal needs, muscles, proteins, enzymes and so on. Most of the protein in grass is found especially in the developing sprouts, flowers and seeds. The yield is not high which is why cows need to devote considerable time to grazing. This is true for herbivores in general. Apr 29 07, 7:02 PM