THE COW’S MOUTH

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21210, 3 December 1938, Page 17

THE COW’S MOUTH

RETAINING THE FOOD CHEWING HER CUD Look into the cow’s mouth and you will see some long, teat-like objects (papillae) project from the inner surface of the cheeks, especially on a level with the grinding surface of the molar teeth, and the ridges of the palate are also rough, with saw-like edges pointing backward. The papillae and points of the palate ridges or “bars,” together with the roughness of the tongue, are intended to help the cow to retain the food in her mouth while chewing her cud. The incisor teeth of the cow normally or naturally are somewhat loose in their sockets. The wearing aw’ay of the cutting parts of the incisor teeth occurs when the cow is ageing so that when she is 12 years old, and sometimes when she is younger, one may find little rounded stubs, like collar buttons, projecting from the gums, instead of large, broad, shovel-shaped teeth. The broad parts quickly wear off, and the slim necks remain. In the horse, however, the incisors, above and below, last the animal until ; it is 20 or more years old. The pig roots below the surface to obtain minerals, etc., and, therefore, is fitted with a

special bone in its snout and a ring or strong gristle as well, to make rooting possible. A moment of thought will enable the reader to understand, when such facts are noted about domestic animals, why the giraffe has such a long neck, the elephant its trunk, the ant-eater its elongated proboscis, the carniverous or flesh-eating animals their fangs and bone-crushing molars, and the feline animals their claws, which have special muscles to keep them hidden or spring them into action.