Many animals all around the globe rely on grass as their primary source of nutrition. In today’s list, we will find out what kinds of creatures consume grass in this way.
You will find that grass makes up a significant portion of these animals’ diet to the point where it constitutes their primary source of nutrition.
The grass is one of the few plants found on every continent. Except for winter and dry seasons, it rarely goes out of supply. It is why so many creatures rely on it for their food supply.
There are a wide variety of animals in terms of form, size, and overall look consuming grass! Some are herbivores, while others are omnivores yet nevertheless often consume grass as part of their diet. Below we have prepared a list of various animals that consume grass in their diet.
What small Animals eat grass?
Let us now check out the animals that consume grass below:
1. Zebras
Herds of striped animals grazing on green plains with herds of wildebeest and buffalo are a common picture that most people have in their heads when they think about zebras. Zebras are animals native to Africa and found in the eastern and southern parts of the continent.
They originate from the same genus as horses and donkeys, two animals that are considerably more tamed, and you can keep them as pets. Zebras consume different types of grasses and leaves and other plant debris in their diet.
They can forage over vast territories in search of the food they need. Since they are herbivores, zebras will only need plant stuff to maintain their health and ensure their survival.
2. Rhinos
You can find five various types of rhinoceros in the wild. These beasts are big and gray and have horns protruding from their noses. In the wild, rhinoceroses inhabit certain regions of Africa and some regions of Asia.
Even though their diet consists only of plants, these massive beasts may weigh more than three tons. Rhinos are herbivores, so their diet consists of different kinds of vegetation.
The specific plants they consume change based on their species and the environment in which they live. However, grasses make up a significant portion of their diet with other plant parts like leaves, fruits, and so on. Rhinos are herbivores, which means they spend most of their time while awake feeding.
The grass provides the nutrition the rhinoceros need to maintain its massive size. It takes around 120 pounds of grass to fulfill a rhinoceros’s dietary requirements.
While female rhinoceroses and their offspring are known to roam in groups referred to as “crashes,” male rhinos tend to spend solitary lives, and the only time they interact with females is during mating season.
As a result, lions find young rhinos to be appetizing prey. Thus moms and their young always travel together. Lions who charge at rhinos will get crushed under their massive feet, and the rhinos use their distinctive horns to stab the lions.
3. Hippos
The hippopotamus is another example of an enormous wild animal that feeds on grass. Hippos are only found in Africa and spend most of their time in the water, where they often submerge themselves to avoid overheating.
Because hippos spend a significant amount of time in the water, scientists classify them as amphibious mammals. Herbivory makes up the majority of hippos’ diets.
They prefer shorter grasses to graze on, although they also consume fruits and several other types of plants.
Hippos were obligate herbivores up until recently, meaning they solely eat plant materials as food. According to the research findings, hippos also consume the dead bodies of other species.
Hippopotamuses are enormous creatures native to Africa that thrive on eating grasses of a shorter length. They do nothing except consume grass for the first five to six hours of each day.
Hippos are known to walk at least five kilometers in any direction to obtain grass to eat. A hippo consumes around 150 pounds of food in a single day.
Only when they are in the water hippos are known for their intense territoriality. Hippos consider the water to be an essential habitat feature.
Hippos mate and deliver their young ones in the water. So it helps keep their delicate skin wet. If another animal or person attempts to invade their aquatic territory, hippos will attack them.
4. Kangaroos
The western grey kangaroo is indigenous to Australia, much like the other varieties of kangaroo. This species of kangaroo may, at first sight, seem to be identical to other animals.
However, they are identified by the fine hair that covers their muzzle. This species of kangaroo lives in grasslands and woods.
Herbivorous in their diet, western grey kangaroos consume coarse grasses and a wide variety of other plant materials, including shrubs and tree barks. The environment in which they reside plays a significant role in determining the specific components of their diet.
Red kangaroos are crepuscular animals that like eating grass and are a common sight in Australia. The giant species of kangaroo is the red kangaroo, which can reach heights of over five to six feet and weigh anything from 40 to close to 200 pounds.
These kangaroos have the potential to live between 16 and 32 years and were one of the original icons of Australia. Kangaroos are the national emblem of Australia, yet the people who live there often find that they bring them nothing but grief.
Kangaroos have a high propensity for causing automobile collisions and other types of damage, just as raccoons do.
The government of Australia has encouraged its citizens and visitors to consume more kangaroo meat to bring the country’s kangaroo population down to a more manageable level. Kangaroo farms create fewer greenhouse gas emissions than cow farms while yielding the same amount of meat.
5. Elephants
The elephant is the last wild animal that is known to consume grass. It is another enormous mammal. Elephants, much like rhinos, are native species that you can find in many different regions of Africa and Asia.
Poaching and habitat destruction have unfortunately put a strain on elephant populations. Elephants consume a wide range of plant life, including grasses, as part of their diet.
However, they can consume tree bark, leaves, berries, and other plants in addition to grass. Their specific diet will change depending on the time of year, as it does for many wild grass-eating animals and the environment in which they live.
Elephants get the energy they need to power their gigantic bodies from the grass they consume. Every day, they need between 250 and 300 pounds of food. Each day, elephants can consume up to 300 kg of food.
In addition, elephants will need between 25 and 50 liters of water daily. Elephants are intelligent creatures whose brains are far larger than any other terrestrial mammal species.
Their heads may weigh anywhere from eight to twelve pounds, depending on their size. The elephant heart may weigh up to 25 kilograms (50 pounds).
In addition, elephants have the longest eyelashes in the animal kingdom, with an average length of almost five inches per eyelash. The elephant’s appetite is enormous, much like every other aspect of this animal’s body.
6. Cows
Grazing animals like cattle consume a significant quantity of grass daily. In some circumstances, a cow’s daily diet consists of grass for more than half of the time. In the fields and pastures where they are often present, cows will frequently be grazing on the grass.
However, the diet given by farmers can also include grass and hay in some quantities. Cows have an intricate digestive system to break down the nutrients in the grass, especially the high amounts of fiber. The grass is the primary source of nutrition for cows.
During leisurely drives in the countryside, most people have seen herds of cows contentedly grazing on the grass. You may be unaware of how much grass cows consume.
You need to have a minimum of one acre of land to get permission to have a cow as a pet in your home. For each cow to consume the 25 to 30 pounds of grass they are required to consume daily, they need a full acre of land.
That accounts for around 3 percent of their whole body weight. Chewing occurs between 40 and 50 times per minute for cows, and this behavior lasts for at least eight hours each day.
There are almost 8,000 distinct varieties of cows in existence today. Cows deliver different products, including meat, leather, and milk each requires a specific breed of cow. There are around 98 million cows now residing in the United States.
7. Sheep
Sheep are another fairly widespread kind of agricultural animal. They are often maintained on farms to produce meat, milk, or wool. They are also raised on farms in many other parts of the globe, including Europe, Africa, Asia, and more. Sheep are herbivores.
As a result, they consume a diverse range of plants, much like a good number of the other species on this list. Sheep are herbivores who spend most of their time nibbling on various vegetation types, including grass, weeds, bushes, and other plants. A significant amount of a sheep’s diet comprises grass.
8. Horses
Horses are farm animals people maintain for riding or farm for their meat or other products. All horses have one thing in common, even though they might be in any form or size, is their food.
Horses, like many other types of agricultural animals, are herbivores. They do best on a diet that is strong in fiber. Most of a horse’s diet is often composed of grass and hay, both high-fiber foods.
The vast quantities of pasture grass that horses consume daily are one factor that contributes to their overall good health. The grass they consume contains silica, which is beneficial to the animals’ oral health.
A single-day grass consumption by a horse amounts to around 25 pounds. Although a horse’s mouth is well-suited for grinding up food, it cannot be used in the process of breathing.
Only they use nostrils for breathing by horses. The horse’s mouth gets constantly flooded with saliva at a rate of around 10 gallons daily. Female horses often have fewer teeth than their male partners. Men typically have 40 teeth, whereas women have 36.
9. Bison
Farming the American bison for its meat, skin, wool, and dairy products is common practice. These days, you are more likely to see a bison on a farm than in the wild in the United States.
Despite this, European bison are often found in the wild rather than on farms. Bison have the best chance of survival when their diets contain hay and grass.
They are grazers, meaning they will consume a tiny amount of food several times during the day. Compared to other vegetation, the quantity of grass that a bison consumes varies depending on the time of year and each plant’s availability.
10. Goats
Most of the time, people raise goats on farms for their meat or milk. Over 300 varieties of goat species are found on farms and vary a little. They are social creatures that like to dwell in groups and are intelligent and curious.
Goats, much like sheep, are a common sight on farms and homesteads in almost every region of the globe. Goats typically consume grass as part of their diet, but grass itself is insufficient for them to survive. They will instead graze and feed on a broad range of vegetation, including weeds, bushes, tree bark, and leaves.
Since goats consume so much grass, some individuals have decided to get rid of their lawnmowers and replace them with herds of goats. Goats consume between two and four pounds of grass every day.
Goats have a four-chambered stomach to digest the large amounts of grass they consume. The rumen is a portion of the stomach found in a goat. The goat has to chew the food more thoroughly regurgitated by the rumen.
Because of this, goats fart rather often. After being adequately chewed, the grass enters the reticulum. The grass goes through the omasum, the third stomach, and the abomasum, the fourth stomach.
11. Capybara
Capybaras are lovable mammals found in South and Central America. They are semi-aquatic as they can live both on land and in water. Additionally, capybaras are members of the same family of rodents as guinea pigs, considerably more popular kinds of pets kept in homes.
These animals are herbivores, which means they can survive only on plant stuff. They often consume a significant amount of grass as part of their diet. However, they will also consume different plants, and flora found close to and inside water.
12. Voles
The vole may be the tiniest animal on this list. The appearance of these rodents is quite similar to that of hamsters. However, they have longer tails and stockier bodies.
They are also known as field or meadow mice. These teeny herbivores like to make their homes in regions with several shelters, such as fields. Voles are herbivores.
Therefore they will only consume plant materials like grasses, the roots of plants, vegetables, fruits, and the bark of trees for food.
However, they will often eat whatever is available. They modify their eating habits by the resources at their disposal, foraging when it is risk-free. That is when there are no potential enemies around.
13. Quokka
Quokkas are cute little marsupials that are native to Rottnest Island in Australia. You may find them there. They have a short tail that stores fat reserves in preparation for periods when food is scarce.
These cute tiny creatures’ bodies are covered in fur, their eyes are black, and they have happy faces. Quokkas are herbivores that consume grasses and several other plants in their diet.
In addition to fruits and vegetables, their diet may include seeds, roots, succulents, and bushes. However, similar to the other creatures on this list, their accurate diet will be determined by what is available.
Because of their kind expressions and fascination with people, quokkas have gained a lot of notoriety in recent years. These social rodents hail from Rottnest Island, located close to Australia.
They consume a significant amount of grass, but also like eating berries and other vegetation. Sadly, quokkas are endangered. They are now homeless because of the logging and human development that has taken place on their island.
On the island, the only animals that may potentially harm them are humans. It is preferable to avoid petting or feeding quokkas, even though they are very sociable animals.
14. Rabbits
Rabbits are herbivores found in an exceptionally diverse spectrum of body configurations and sizes. Some of them are naughty and full of energy, while others are kind and loving.
There are so many different breeds of bunnies. The consumption of fresh grass and hay daily is essential to the health and well-being of rabbits. In addition to the positive effects on their general health that the fiber has, the fibrous grass also helps to wear down their constantly developing teeth.
If you let your rabbit run free in your yard, you should watch out for any flying predators that can come by. Pet bunnies are at risk of being stolen by predatory animals such as cats and birds of prey.
A rabbit’s diet typically consists of grass or hay, weeds, green plants, vegetables, and fruits. They will do well to include a diverse array of leafy greens and vegetables into their daily diet.
15. Guinea Pigs
The food requirements of guinea pigs and rabbits are comparable to one another. They should have daily access to a plentiful supply of freshly cut hay or grass.
Fresh grass or hay can assist them in avoiding developing enlarged teeth, which may contribute to other health problems such as ulcers, just as it does for rabbits.
Guinea pigs are excellent companion animals because of their sociable nature and like to live in groups or couples.
They are common companion animals for households and single people. In addition, similar to rabbits, they love an extensive variety of vegetables and greens in addition to the fresh grass or hay they consume.
16. Ducks
However, even though they are not the most popular pet on our list, ducks are still a fantastic alternative. Ducks consume grass, many other plants and vegetables, insects, and other tiny critters that reside inside these foods when they are free to roam the wild.
If you allow your ducks to have full reign of your yard, you can expect them to continue eating whatever seems appetizing.
It is unlikely that grass will make up a significant portion of their diet. However, to get some of the essential nutrients many ducks will consume grass, plants, and aquatic vegetation.
17. Dogs
Dogs are another widespread household pet that has a remarkable capacity to consume large amounts of grass. They are omnivores, meaning they consume a broad variety of foods.
However, if you take your dog out for walks or let them into the yard, you can see that they are eating the grass or other plants. Several studies on the topic reveal that eating grass is a natural activity and is often not symptomatic of any difficulties.
Nonetheless, some individuals feel that eating grass is an indication that your dog is sick.
On the other hand, it might indicate that your dog is hungry, bored, or just like the grass flavor. It is significant to keep an eye out for any plants in the grass or the surrounding area that can be harmful to your dog.
18. Deer
Deer are adorable and docile creatures that can thrive in several environments all around the globe. It encompasses hilly regions, lush woods, and even rainy rainforests with dense vegetation.
There are many different kinds of deer, each with its unique appearance and characteristics, but most male deer develop antlers. Many other species on this list are also herbivores, and deer are no exception.
The specific kinds of plants and flora they consume vary according to the time of year and the environment in which they live.
It is unlikely that deer who live in steep terrain would consume the same foods as deer living in the forests. However, deer will consume grasses and several other types of green foliage if it is accessible.
The food consumption makes up the bulk of a deer’s daily routine, although they are picky eaters and will only consume certain types of vegetation. Because they are finicky feeders, they often consume just the grass most recently cut.
Even though they do not consume food, they have vital nutritional requirements. Instead, they limit themselves to nutritious foods such as fresh grass, vibrant foliage, and beautiful flowers and will even eat fruit if they find it.
Due to the formation of horns, zoologists agree that males need higher nutrients than females. It is particularly true in regards to calcium. If you were curious about which animal consumes both grass and meat, you should know that there are stories of deer consuming discovered animal corpses and gnawing on bones.
Numerous animal species, such as cows, grasshoppers, rabbits, deer, sheep, horses, goats, bison, buffalos, zebras, and kangaroos, amongst many others, get the majority of their nutrition from the consumption of grass.
The list is rather extensive. The term “grazer” refers more or less to any member of the family of mammals that consumes grass as its primary food source.
Because it is simple to reproduce, it is inexpensive to keep, and not difficult to care for, the grass is one of the forms of food that is most extensively accessible in the world.
Final Takeaway
Even in their natural environments, many herbivorous animals rely on grass as their primary source of nutrition, specifically when no alternative herbivorous foods are available.
These creatures include grasshoppers, kangaroos, deer, bison, zebras, and a wide variety of other species. Nevertheless, not all domesticated herbivorous animals consume grass in their natural diet.
Goats, cows, bunnies, sheep, and horses consume grass as a primary source of nutrition. However, goats will also seek out and consume other plant-based foods. Hopefully, the above list of animal-eating grass has answered all your queries related to the topic.
Hi There, AJ Oren here. I am the founder of this amazing pet blog & a passionate writer who loves helping pet owners to learn more about their pets through my articles. I am also the content manager of this blog. I have experience in pet training and behavior, sheltering, and currently working for a veterinary clinic.