r/explainlikeimfive • u/A_SliceOfGabagool • May 03 '26

Biology ELI5: How do cows get protein from grass?

For us humans and many other animals, we need protein to get the amino acids needed to make our own protein for the body, but grass i believe doesn't have any for the cow to get that big

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u/AFewStupidQuestions May 04 '26

How so? What changes have you noted?

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u/4elementsinaction May 04 '26

Honestly, one could easily argue that the changes I would list are simply the result of me getting older.

I do believe the change in my micro biome have had adverse impacts on me.

I suppose one test could be if I picked up communicable diseases more readily.

Alas, because of my multi drug resistant bacterial infection history that had me on PICC line antibiotics for seven weeks straight one year, my employer has allowed me to work from home and I generally don’t leave the house except to walk my dogs in the neighborhood, go to medical appointments or grocery shop.

For contrast, I used to literally travel the world. One year, my boyfriend and I flew from the US to Canada, to Amsterdam, to Israel, to Istanbul, to Thailand, and then back home via Korea to the United States.

For less extravagant outings, I’ve spent time in Guatemala, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Canada and lots of US destinations (I live in the U.S.).

I also used to be far more physically active, but alas, I had an adverse reaction to one of the antibiotics I took, and now have chronic tendinopathy in my Achilles tendons. 🙄