There are quite a few differences between a ruminant and non-ruminant stomach. Non-ruminant digestive tracts can also be called monogastric, meaning one stomach. Examples of monogastric animals include dogs, pigs, cats, horses, and humans. On the other hand, ruminant animals include beef, dairy, goats, sheep, and deer.
First and foremost, the major difference can be seen in the stomach. In a non-ruminant digestive tract, the stomach will have one part. In a ruminant digestive tract, that is not the case. Instead, the stomach is broken down into four parts: the rumen, reticulum, omasom, and abomasum (fun fact: in latin ab means behind, so abomasum means behind the masum, and it is!). The stomach of a monogastric animal is a pinkish "u" shaped organ that is connected to the esophagus. In the stomach, food gets broken down with enzymes, specifically proteins. In a ruminant animal, the process is much more complex. The rumen is the large anaerobic fermentation vent. On it are millions of things called papillae that help with absorption and give the rumen a "shag carpet" look. The rumen aids in something called "cud chewing." This is where bolus (previously eaten food) comes back up to the mouth and needs to be chewed 6-7 more times before it is digested. This process is called rumination. After going through rumination, the food is fermented, which creates a large amount of gas. To get rid of the gas, a ruminant animal must take part in belching. In the rumen is also a rumen microbe which are large protists. On the side of the protist is a fungal spore and beneath it is a bacteria. In the reticulum, small microorganisms like those in the rumen help in the process of fermentation. During this process, the smaller and more dense food goes through the reticulum and has a honeycomb structure. The reticulum is special because it is like a magnet. It catches hardware such as nails and screws that a cow may accidentally eat. This hardware can be easily removed with something called a rumen magnet. Next you have the omasum. The omasum is a heavy organ that uses a grinding action to break down the food, but the exact function of it is still being debated. The abomasum is considered the true stomach and works in much of the same way that a monogastrics stomach does. This uses lysozomes (acids) that can help break down large quantities of foods such as grass.
First and foremost, the major difference can be seen in the stomach. In a non-ruminant digestive tract, the stomach will have one part. In a ruminant digestive tract, that is not the case. Instead, the stomach is broken down into four parts: the rumen, reticulum, omasom, and abomasum (fun fact: in latin ab means behind, so abomasum means behind the masum, and it is!). The stomach of a monogastric animal is a pinkish "u" shaped organ that is connected to the esophagus. In the stomach, food gets broken down with enzymes, specifically proteins. In a ruminant animal, the process is much more complex. The rumen is the large anaerobic fermentation vent. On it are millions of things called papillae that help with absorption and give the rumen a "shag carpet" look. The rumen aids in something called "cud chewing." This is where bolus (previously eaten food) comes back up to the mouth and needs to be chewed 6-7 more times before it is digested. This process is called rumination. After going through rumination, the food is fermented, which creates a large amount of gas. To get rid of the gas, a ruminant animal must take part in belching. In the rumen is also a rumen microbe which are large protists. On the side of the protist is a fungal spore and beneath it is a bacteria. In the reticulum, small microorganisms like those in the rumen help in the process of fermentation. During this process, the smaller and more dense food goes through the reticulum and has a honeycomb structure. The reticulum is special because it is like a magnet. It catches hardware such as nails and screws that a cow may accidentally eat. This hardware can be easily removed with something called a rumen magnet. Next you have the omasum. The omasum is a heavy organ that uses a grinding action to break down the food, but the exact function of it is still being debated. The abomasum is considered the true stomach and works in much of the same way that a monogastrics stomach does. This uses lysozomes (acids) that can help break down large quantities of foods such as grass.