Understand the definition of a ruminant: Ruminants are animals that have a specialized stomach with four compartments (rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum) that allows them to digest fibrous plant material through a process of fermentation.
Identify the characteristics of the animals listed: Pigs, horses, cows, and rabbits.
Recognize that cows are known ruminants because they have a four-chambered stomach that allows them to efficiently break down cellulose in plant material.
Note that pigs and horses have a single-chambered stomach and do not have the same digestive process as ruminants. Horses are hindgut fermenters, and pigs have a simple stomach.
Understand that rabbits, like horses, are not ruminants. They are hindgut fermenters and practice coprophagy to digest their food more efficiently.