Biology
The Role of Symbiotic Gut Microbiota in Herbivorous Mammals
Quick fact
Herbivorous mammals like cows, deer, and horses do not have the enzymes to break down cellulose themselves; instead, they depend on a complex community of symbiotic gut microbes that ferment plant fiber into energy-rich compounds called volatile fatty acids, which provide up to 70% of the animal's daily energy needs.
Why this is interesting
Have you ever wondered how a cow can eat grass all day and get all the nutrients it needs? Plants are made mostly of cellulose, a tough material that most animals cannot digest—even us. So how do herbivores do it?