As far as I am aware, grazing animals like cows or sheep poop in the same meadows where they eat grass, but presumably don’t have any problems eating the grass and pooping in the same space. But if humans would eat vegetables that they had pooped on, my understanding is that we would get sick.
Why? Am I incorrect that grazing animals poop where they eat? Are their stomachs more resistant to whatever makes it dangerous?
Thank you!
They can and do get sick. Here’s an example of bovine parasites whose life cycle goes from cow to grass and back again:
https://livestock.extension.wisc.edu/articles/managing-worms-on-summer-pastures/
I was taught that this is why herd animals keep moving.
Yes, this exactly.
They finish off one field, do their business, then they… moooove on.
(Sorry.)
Exactly, same goes for carnivores eating raw meat. Well, besides vultures I guess.
My rabbits eat poop hay but not pee hay. They actually have special poops that they have to eat called cecotropes so I’m guessing their gut microbiome is more beneficial than ours. Also because they are hind gut fermenters, the bacteria necessary for the fermentation are probably different than the ones in our gut.
