How does a cow get its food in What do animals eat – Class 6 Science Experiment

Chapter Name: What do animals eat

Activity Name: How does a cow get its food in What do animals eat

Activity Description:

In this experiment, we will observe a cow while it is eating its food to understand how cows obtain their food. We will make observations regarding the cow’s behavior, the parts of its body involved in finding and consuming food, and the role of teeth and jaws in the process.

Required Items:

• Notebook
• Pen/pencil

Step by Step Procedure:

1. Find a suitable location where you can observe a cow or buffalo while it is eating its food. It could be a pasture, a farm, or any place where cows are present.
2. Observe the cow closely and make notes of your observations in your notebook.
3. Note down what the cow does to find its food. Pay attention to the parts of its body involved in this process.
4. Observe how the cow starts eating. Does it have any specific way of approaching its food?
5. Examine the cow’s mouth and identify the different parts involved in eating its food, such as jaws, teeth, and tongue.
6. Determine if cows have teeth. If possible, ask someone who tends to cows to confirm whether cows have teeth on both jaws.
7. Notice if you have observed cows and buffaloes sitting under trees and moving their jaws. If so, try to find out the reason behind this behavior.

Experiment Observations:

1. The cow searches for its food by moving its head and sniffing the surroundings.
2. The cow typically starts eating by lowering its head towards the ground or the food source.
3. The mouth of a cow consists of a pair of strong jaws, a large tongue, and a set of teeth.
4. Cows do have teeth. They possess teeth on both their upper and lower jaws.
5. Cows and buffaloes often sit under trees and move their jaws to chew their cud. This behavior is known as rumination and helps them digest their food more effectively.

Precautions:

1. Maintain a safe distance from the cow or buffalo while observing them to avoid any potential harm.
2. Do not feed or disturb the animals during the experiment.

Lesson Learnt from Experiment:

Through this experiment, we learned that cows are herbivores and depend on plants for food. They use their keen sense of smell and their jaws, teeth, and tongue to find and consume their food.

We also discovered that cows have teeth on both their upper and lower jaws, and their unique behavior of sitting under trees and moving their jaws is related to rumination, which aids in effective digestion.