Goats have one stomach that is divided into four distinct compartments. These four chambers are the rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum (also known as the true stomach)
- The rumen is the largest compartment where microbial fermentation breaks down fibrous plant material.
- The reticulum works closely with the rumen and has a honeycomb structure.
- The omasum has many folds and absorbs water and nutrients.
- The abomasum functions like a typical stomach, using acid and enzymes to digest food.
This specialized four-compartment stomach allows goats, as ruminants, to efficiently digest roughage such as grass and hay
. When goats are born, the rumen, reticulum, and omasum are underdeveloped, and milk is digested primarily in the abomasum. As they grow and start eating solid food, the other compartments develop and become functional
. In summary, while it is often said that goats have "four stomachs," they technically have one stomach with four compartments designed for complex digestion
