Are Horses Ruminants? Horse vs Cattle vs Sheep Digestion

Horses, cattle and sheep all eat grass and hay, so it is easy to assume they digest it the same way. They do not, and that difference shapes how each animal should be fed.

So, are horses ruminants? No. Horses have one simple stomach and digest fibre in their hindgut, while cattle and sheep are ruminants with a four-compartment stomach.

This guide explains how each digestive system works, compares horses with cattle and sheep, and shows why the same bale or feed is not always right for every animal on a mixed Alberta farm.

Are Horses Ruminants?

No, horses are not ruminants. They are non-ruminant herbivores, often called "hindgut fermenters," because most of their fibre digestion happens in the cecum and large colon, after the stomach and small intestine.

Ruminants such as cattle, sheep and goats ferment fibre first, in the rumen at the front of the digestive tract. They also chew their cud, which horses do not do.

Both systems rely on microbes to break down plant fibre. The big difference is where that fermentation happens, and that changes almost everything about how each animal should be fed.

How Many Stomachs Does a Horse Have?

A horse has one stomach, and it is quite small for the size of the animal. Most of the digestive work on fibre happens further down the tract.

The Rutgers University fact sheet on equine nutrition gives these approximate figures for an average 1,000-lb (about 450 kg) horse.

Part of the Horse's Digestive Tract	Approximate Length	Approximate Capacity
Stomach	—	2–4 US gallons (about 7.6–15 L)
Small intestine	About 75 ft (about 23 m)	About 20 US gallons (about 76 L)
Cecum	3–4 ft (about 0.9–1.2 m)	7–8 US gallons (about 26–30 L)
Large colon	10–12 ft (about 3–3.7 m)	14–16 US gallons (about 53–61 L)
Small colon and rectum	About 10 ft (about 3 m)	About 5 US gallons (about 19 L)

 

The small stomach is why horses do best with forage spread through the day. Rutgers advises that concentrates, if fed, should be given in at least two meals a day rather than one large one.

Where Does a Horse Digest Fibre?

A horse digests fibre mainly in the cecum and large colon. Rutgers explains that bacteria and protozoa in the cecum use fermentation to digest structural carbohydrates, and the large colon is another site of fibre fermentation.

Because this happens after the small intestine, a horse absorbs sugars, starch and fats first, then ferments the fibre that is left. That is very different from a ruminant, which ferments almost everything first.

Can Horses Throw Up?

No. Rutgers notes that horses are unable to regurgitate food, so if they overeat or eat something poisonous, vomiting is not an option.

This is one reason horses are so sensitive to sudden diet changes, grain overload and contaminated feed. Our guide to common horse health problems explains digestive warning signs to watch for.

How Does a Cow's Digestive System Work?

Cattle are ruminants with a stomach made of four compartments: the rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum. The rumen is a large fermentation vat where microbes break down fibre before the food moves on.

According to Mississippi State University Extension, the rumen can hold up to 40 gallons in a mature cow. The reticulum holds about 5 gallons.

Cattle Stomach Compartment	Main Role	Share of Total Stomach Volume (Mature Cattle)
Rumen + reticulum	Microbial fermentation of fibre	About 84%
Omasum	Absorbs water and some nutrients	About 12%
Abomasum	The "true" stomach, similar to a horse's	About 4%

 

Source: Mississippi State University Extension.

MSU also notes that cattle spend about one-third of their time chewing their cud. A mature cow can produce up to 50 quarts of saliva a day, which helps buffer the rumen.

Are Calves Born as Ruminants?

Not fully. Mississippi State Extension explains that young calves, from birth to about 2 to 3 months of age, are functionally non-ruminants. Milk bypasses the rumen through a groove and goes straight to the abomasum.

The rumen develops as the calf starts eating solid feed and picks up microbes from its surroundings.

How Many Stomachs Does a Sheep or Lamb Have?

Sheep and lambs have the same four-compartment stomach as cattle: rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum. Like calves, very young lambs rely on milk first, and their rumen develops as they begin eating forage.

Mississippi State Extension gives these relative proportions for the adult sheep stomach, measured by area: about 73% reticulorumen, 9% omasum and 18% abomasum.

Goats are also ruminants. MSU describes them as intermediate feeders, meaning they eat a mix of grasses and browse such as leaves and shrubs.

How Do Horse, Cattle and Sheep Digestion Compare?

The table below sums up the key differences in plain terms.

Feature	Horse	Cattle	Sheep
Ruminant?	No (hindgut fermenter)	Yes	Yes
Stomach compartments	1	4	4
Main fibre fermentation site	Cecum and large colon (hindgut)	Rumen (foregut)	Rumen (foregut)
Chews cud?	No	Yes	Yes
Can vomit?	No	No (but regurgitates cud to re-chew)	No (but regurgitates cud to re-chew)
Feeding style that suits it	Small, frequent meals; steady forage	Large forage meals; rumen buffers feed	Forage-based; sensitive to some minerals

 

These differences explain why horses, cattle and sheep often need different hay quality, different feeding routines and different minerals.

Why Does This Matter When Feeding Your Animals?

Because each species digests feed differently, the same hay, grain or mineral can be fine for one and risky for another. This matters most on mixed Alberta farms and acreages where several species share feed, barns or pasture.

Why Do Horses Need Small, Frequent Meals?

With a small stomach and no ability to vomit, horses handle steady forage much better than large, infrequent meals. Large grain meals can overwhelm the small intestine and upset the hindgut.

Most horses do best with hay available for long periods. Our guide on how much hay a horse eats in a day explains daily forage needs.

Why Are Horses More Sensitive to Dust and Mould in Hay?

Horses are generally more sensitive to dusty and mouldy hay than cattle, both for their airways and their digestion. Hay that cattle might tolerate may not be safe for horses.

Before feeding any questionable bales, read our guide on how to tell if hay is mouldy. It also covers whether cattle, sheep and goats face the same risk.

Can Horses Eat Cattle Feed?

Not safely, unless you have checked the label carefully. Some cattle feeds contain ionophores such as monensin (Rumensin), which are very dangerous to horses.

Extension Horses states that horses should not eat any feed containing Rumensin because it is often lethal, affecting the heart muscle and leading to heart failure. They advise always reading feed labels before turning horses in with cattle.

Can Sheep Share Minerals With Cattle or Horses?

Be very careful. Sheep are much more sensitive to copper than cattle, and products made for other species can contain levels that are unsafe for sheep.

A Grainews article on managing copper notes that cattle need about 10 times more copper than sheep, and that sheep and goats do not have the same copper needs as cattle. It warns that problems usually happen when sheep are fed a product made for cattle or goats.

Always choose minerals labelled for the species you are feeding, and keep sheep away from cattle or horse minerals and feeds.

Can Horses, Cattle and Sheep Eat the Same Hay?

Sometimes, but the best hay for each species is often different. Horses usually need clean, low-dust hay, while cattle and sheep needs depend on their production stage, such as growth, pregnancy or lactation.

Legume hay like alfalfa can suit high-producing cattle and some horses, but it is very rich for easy-keeping horses. Lush legumes can also contribute to bloat in ruminants, so new feeds should be introduced gradually.

If you feed several species, match each hay to the animal's needs and test your hay when you can. For horse-specific guidance, see our guides to timothy hay for horses and alfalfa hay for horses.

What Mistakes Do Mixed-Farm Owners Make?

The most common mistakes come from assuming all grazing animals can share the same feed, minerals and hay.

•       Letting horses into cattle feed. Some cattle feeds contain ionophores that can kill horses.

•       Giving sheep cattle or goat minerals. Sheep are sensitive to copper.

•       Feeding dusty or mouldy hay to horses. Horses are less tolerant than cattle.

•       Feeding horses large grain meals. Their small stomach cannot handle big meals well.

•       Changing feed suddenly. All three species need gradual feed changes.

•       Using one hay for every animal without checking needs. Match hay quality to each species and stage.

Where Can You Get Hay and Feed for Horses, Cattle and Sheep in Alberta?

Horse Creek Hay & Feed supplies hay and feed for horses and livestock from Rocky View County near Cochrane. Browse our 2026 hay collection, our horse feed products, and our cattle feed options.

We also deliver livestock feed to the Edmonton area. Learn more in our guide to livestock feed delivery in Edmonton.

Not sure which feed suits which animal? Contact our team or book a session through our nutrition service. [FILL IN: whether the store stocks species-specific minerals for sheep]

Conclusion

Horses are not ruminants. They have one small stomach and digest fibre in the hindgut, while cattle and sheep ferment fibre in a large rumen before the rest of digestion.

That difference explains why horses need steady forage and small meals, why they are more sensitive to dusty or mouldy hay, and why some cattle feeds are dangerous to them. It also explains why sheep need their own minerals.

On a mixed farm, feed each species for its own digestive system. When in doubt, read every label and ask a veterinarian or animal nutritionist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a horse a monogastric animal?

Horses have a single stomach, so they are often described as monogastric. However, unlike pigs or dogs, they ferment large amounts of fibre in their cecum and colon. That is why they are usually called non-ruminant herbivores or hindgut fermenters.

Do horses chew their cud?

No. Only ruminants such as cattle, sheep and goats regurgitate and re-chew their cud. Horses chew their food once, which is why good teeth and plenty of chewing time matter so much.

Are goats ruminants?

Yes. Goats have the same four-compartment stomach as cattle and sheep. Mississippi State University Extension describes them as intermediate feeders that eat both grasses and browse such as leaves and shrubs.

Why can't horses vomit?

Horses have a strong muscle where the esophagus enters the stomach, and food normally moves only one way. Rutgers notes that horses are unable to regurgitate food, so overeating or eating something toxic is especially dangerous. Call your vet right away if you suspect either.

Can horses and cattle graze the same pasture?

Yes, many farms graze them together or in rotation. Make sure horses cannot reach cattle feed or mineral products that contain ionophores, and check that fencing, water and mineral access suit both species.