Cud chewing is also necessary because the foods ruminant animals eat are difficult to digest and it takes extra effort to get all of the nutrients from the food.

Other examples of ruminant animals include deer, camels, buffalo, goats, sheep, and giraffes.

The main difference between ruminant and non-ruminant animals is that ruminant animals are herbivores whereas non-ruminant animals are omnivores or carnivores.

Thus, ruminant animals have a complex rumen to digest plant material while non-ruminant animals have a simple stomach since their food is easy to digest.

Non-ruminant animals are animals with a single-compartment stomach, such as swine, poultry, horses, dogs, cats, and humans.