Equine digestive system PDF

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This document is a overview of the equine digestive system....

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Equine Digestive System  Examples??? - Horses - Donkeys - Zebras 

● The salivary glands produce saliva to wet the feed for the feed to be swallowed and digested easier … aka easier passage

 ________________________

 The Esophagus…. 

 The Mouth ….  ●

The top and bottom incisors (top and bottom row of front teeth) are intact.

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The molars are adapted to chewing fibrous feeds.

● It’s about 5 feet in length ● It connects the mouth to the stomach ● It is not well adapted for regurgitation (throwing up).

Stomach…

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It’s similar to the monogastric digestive system ● Has a higher rate of passage ● Has limited digestion ● Has little nutrition absorption ______________________________ 

Small Intestine….

 It is similar to the intestine function in monogastric and ruminant systems.

● Has no gallbladder to store bile ● The primary site of protein and soluble carbohydrates digestion ● Majority of the nutrients are absorption ______________________________  

Large Intestine

 Composed of the : ➔ Cecum ➔ Colon (large and small) ➔ Rectum  The cecum and the colon take up most of the volume of the equine digestive system.

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● The enlarged cecum aids in the breakdown of fibers ● The large intestine supplies up to 25% of energy requirements ● Has a slower rate of passage ● Primary site of water absorption ● The microbial mass is not utilized ______________________________ 

Monogastric Digestive system *Digestive Tract - Pig

*Swine Digestive System  

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Examples??? - Pigs - Dogs - Rabbits - Chickens - Turkeys 

The Mouth…..

Has complete set of teeth : incisors, canines, molars, and premolars ● The teeth reduces the particle size, which increases surface area for enzymatic action ● The salivary glands produce saliva to lubricate the feed, which contains amylase to begin starch digestion as well as antibodies and lysozyme  

The Esophagus….

The small Intestine …

 The esophagus connects the mouth to the stomach  The sphinicular valve is present which prevents regurgitation. 

The Stomach ….

 ● It is very acidic ● The mucus lining is for protection ● The amylase becomes inactive 

  

 ● It’s similar to hindgut fermenters and ruminant digestive systems ● Site for enzymatic digestion and absorption ● The primary site of protein, carb, and fat digestion  Majority of the nutrients are absorbed in the small intestine.        

1. Duodenum (left of the small intestine) is where most of the digestion occurs

Avian Digestion System….

 2. Jejunum : is where some digestion and some absorption occurs 3. Ileum: is where most of the absorption occurs ______________________________

Examples??? - Chickens - Birds

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         

The Beak …..

 ● ● ● ●   

No Lips No teeth No chewing The saliva moistens food

The Esophagus…

it is very muscular & it is used to grind food. (grit may be found in the stomach as it is ingested by birds.) 

Small Intestine…

 The esophagus connects the mouth to the stomach. ● The “Crop” (a modification) stores and moistens food ● Little to no digestion 

The Stomach…

 Contains two parts. 1. Proventriculus: It’s the same as the swine stomach and it provides digestive excretions. 2. Gizzard: Located after the proventriculus and

 Has similar functions as the ruminant and hindgut fermenters system ➔ Duodenum: Mostly Digestion ➔ Ileum: Half digestion and half absorption ➔ Jejunum: Mostly absorption...