Cows, by virtue of the plentiful and varied bacteria in their rumen, are able to derive energy from things that would pass through a human undigested. The prune pit has a hard, nutritionally blank hull, but the embryo inside provides protein and fat. Rumen bacteria can break down the hull and free these nutrients, though it takes them a few days. DePeters showed me one of the mesh bags. "Sometimes I put a midterm exam in there," he said. Cows can't digest wood pulp. "I tell my students, 'The cow didn't digest that material any better than you did.
( Mary Roach )
[ Gulp: Adventures on the ]
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