What is the difference between a ruminant and a hind gut?

Ruminants are animals like cows and sheep that have a specialized stomach divided into four compartments, allowing them to efficiently digest fibrous plant material through a process of fermentation and regurgitation (cud chewing). In contrast, hindgut fermenters, such as horses and rabbits, have a single-chambered stomach and rely on a large cecum and colon for fermentation, where microbial breakdown of food occurs after it has passed through the stomach. This difference in digestive anatomy and process affects how each type of animal processes their food and extracts nutrients.