Märehditään

Märehditään is a Finnish term that refers to the biological process of rumination, specifically in animals. It describes the regurgitation of partially digested food from the stomach into the mouth for further chewing. This process is characteristic of ruminants, such as cattle, sheep, and goats, which are mammals whose diet consists primarily of plant material. The digestive system of ruminants is adapted to break down tough cellulose found in plants through microbial fermentation.

The process of märehditään typically occurs in several stages. After initially swallowing food, the animal returns it to its mouth, often in the form of a bolus. This bolus is then re-chewed, a process known as cud chewing, which breaks down the food further and mixes it with saliva. The re-chewed food is then swallowed again, passing through different compartments of the stomach where microbial digestion continues. This cyclical process allows ruminants to extract nutrients from fibrous plant matter that would otherwise be indigestible.

Märehditään is crucial for the efficient digestion of herbivores. It increases the surface area of the food, making it easier for digestive enzymes and microbes to work. This allows ruminants to thrive on diets that are low in readily available nutrients. The timing of rumination often varies, with many animals engaging in it during periods of rest or inactivity, such as at night. The practice is a fundamental aspect of their physiology and survival.