What you feed your horse is important. Shops make it easy for the horse owner by selling so many different feeds for you to pick from.
Understanding how the food is digested is not so easy! To understand how the horses digestive system working is all here with detailed diagrams for you to read and look at and help you to understand your horse better!
Understanding how the food is digested is not so easy! To understand how the horses digestive system working is all here with detailed diagrams for you to read and look at and help you to understand your horse better!
Three Salivary Glands
We all know that the digestion begin with the month. The horse has a complicated digestion, it is designed to take small amounts of food throughout the day and night.
We all know that the digestion begin with the month. The horse has a complicated digestion, it is designed to take small amounts of food throughout the day and night.
The horse has three salivary glands.
1 Parotid 2 Sublingual 3 Submaxillary The saliva also contains, bicarbonate, which is an Alkaline and helps to neutralise or buffer the acid in the horses stomach. The bolus of food, after it has been swallowed moves along the digestive tract by waves of muscular contractions known as peristalsis. The waves are usually irreversible, occasionally food becomes lodged in the oesophagus and this known as a choke. The saliva also contains, bicarbonate, which is an Alkaline and helps to neutralise or buffer the acid in the horses stomach. The bolus of food, after it has been swallowed moves along the digestive tract by waves of muscular contractions known as peristalsis. The waves are usually irreversible, occasionally food becomes lodged in the oesophagus and this known as choke. |
Stomach
A muscular valve called the cardiac sphincter controls the passage of food from the oesophagus into the stomach.
The valve is powerful and does not allow the food to be regurgitated (Vomit)
The walls of the stomach will bust rather then allow digesta back into the oesophagus. This means the horse is to take care not to consume food that will upset the stomach.
In the horse she has a soft palate which hangs across the back of the mouth like a curtain. If the food was forced back out it would go to the nostril and not the mouth. The presence of food in the nostrils may indicate a ruptured stomach.
The empty stomach of a 16hh horse is about the size of a rugby ball and can stretch to accommodate 13 - 23 litres (that is around 3 - 5 gallons)
The horses stomach is designed to hold little food as they are frequent eater, a trickle feeder, eating small amounts often.
Feeding large quantities of concentrated feed can cause severe problems such as laboured breathing, fatigue, laminitis, colic (a build up of gases) nor a ruptured stomach.
The stomach acts as a holding vessel for the food like a mixing bowl. It gets churned around and then it is passed from here into the small intestines.
If too much food is given at one time it will be pushed out of the stomach too quickly before it as time to mix thoroughly with the gastric secretion which helps to begin digestion.
The feed breaks down due to the enzymes and microbial digestion in the stomach.
This is only a small part of the digestion system. The stomach starts digesting by breaking down proteins by the use of gastric juices (enzymes) mixed together called, chyme.
The acid secretions kill any bacteria eaten by the horse.
The Stomach Has Four Regions
The acid secretions helps to kill any bacteria which may have been eaten with the food.
As food arrives into the stomach the fundic glands in the stomach walls are stimulated to secrete gastric juices which contain mucus, pepsin enzyme and hydrochloric acid.
Gastric Juices
10 - 30 litres of gastric juices are produced daily.
Pepsin - this enzyme is activated by the presence of hydrochloric acid. It begins to break down proteins into substances called, peptones and proteases.
Most of the protein digestion takes place later in the small intestine.
Hydrochloric acid is produced by parietal cells and converts pepsinogen to pepsin.
It also has a strong antibacterial function.
The secretion of gastric juices is thought to be continuous in the horses stomach although when food is present it increases.
The food material produced by the stomach is then called chyme and it is poured into the first part of the small intestine.
Small Intestine
The lenght approx 20 - 27 meters (60 - 80 feet) with the capacity of 55 - 70 litres (12 - 16 gallons)
It runs between the stomach and the caecum.
The Small Intestines Is Split Into Three Parts
A muscular valve called the cardiac sphincter controls the passage of food from the oesophagus into the stomach.
The valve is powerful and does not allow the food to be regurgitated (Vomit)
The walls of the stomach will bust rather then allow digesta back into the oesophagus. This means the horse is to take care not to consume food that will upset the stomach.
In the horse she has a soft palate which hangs across the back of the mouth like a curtain. If the food was forced back out it would go to the nostril and not the mouth. The presence of food in the nostrils may indicate a ruptured stomach.
The empty stomach of a 16hh horse is about the size of a rugby ball and can stretch to accommodate 13 - 23 litres (that is around 3 - 5 gallons)
The horses stomach is designed to hold little food as they are frequent eater, a trickle feeder, eating small amounts often.
Feeding large quantities of concentrated feed can cause severe problems such as laboured breathing, fatigue, laminitis, colic (a build up of gases) nor a ruptured stomach.
The stomach acts as a holding vessel for the food like a mixing bowl. It gets churned around and then it is passed from here into the small intestines.
If too much food is given at one time it will be pushed out of the stomach too quickly before it as time to mix thoroughly with the gastric secretion which helps to begin digestion.
The feed breaks down due to the enzymes and microbial digestion in the stomach.
This is only a small part of the digestion system. The stomach starts digesting by breaking down proteins by the use of gastric juices (enzymes) mixed together called, chyme.
The acid secretions kill any bacteria eaten by the horse.
The Stomach Has Four Regions
- Oesophageal Region - No digestive glands, holding areas for food.
- Cardiac Region - Closest to the heart, these glands produce mucus to help protect the stomach lining from effects of acid.
- Fundic Region - The main body of stomach, fundic and gastric glands which contain three types of cells which do different things - including produce enzymes
- Pyloric Region - Contains the pyloric glands, which secrete mucus and small amounts of protein digesting enzmes
The acid secretions helps to kill any bacteria which may have been eaten with the food.
As food arrives into the stomach the fundic glands in the stomach walls are stimulated to secrete gastric juices which contain mucus, pepsin enzyme and hydrochloric acid.
Gastric Juices
10 - 30 litres of gastric juices are produced daily.
Pepsin - this enzyme is activated by the presence of hydrochloric acid. It begins to break down proteins into substances called, peptones and proteases.
Most of the protein digestion takes place later in the small intestine.
Hydrochloric acid is produced by parietal cells and converts pepsinogen to pepsin.
It also has a strong antibacterial function.
The secretion of gastric juices is thought to be continuous in the horses stomach although when food is present it increases.
The food material produced by the stomach is then called chyme and it is poured into the first part of the small intestine.
Small Intestine
The lenght approx 20 - 27 meters (60 - 80 feet) with the capacity of 55 - 70 litres (12 - 16 gallons)
It runs between the stomach and the caecum.
The Small Intestines Is Split Into Three Parts
They both lie to the side of the horses abdomen between the stomach and the pelvis. The small intestine can move quite freely except as its attachment to the stomach and caecum It lies in several coils with the small colon.
The small intestine is the major site of breakdown of concentrate food, such as, starch, protein and absorption of the resulting nutrients. The fibre part is mainly digested in the large intestine.
The small intestine enzymes require alkaline conditions. This is produced by the pancreatic juice from the pancreas and bile from the liver.
Bile is produced within the cells of the liver and is a product of red cell destruction. It is green-yellow colour.
Alkaline, mucus fluid containing bile salts, bile pigments, cholesterol and salts.
Bile neutralises chyme and emulsifies fat.
The horse does not have a gall bladder in which to store bile. Instead bile trickles continuously into the duodenum from the liver via the bile duct.
Pancreas which is a gland which lies along side the duodenum which empties into it by one or more pancreatic ducts.
The main bulk consists of a glands which discharge their alkaline fluid and digestive enzymes via the pancreatic duct into the duodenum. The alkaline fluid (sodium bicarbonate) neutralises the acid content of the duodenum.
It also produces hormone insulin into the blood stream
Further digestive enzymes breakdown the protein resulting in amino acids.
Non-fibrous and soluble foods will also be digested in this short period.
The passage of food in the small intestine is relatively rapid and food will reach the caecum in just over one hour.
Large Intestine is Made Up Of
The small intestine is the major site of breakdown of concentrate food, such as, starch, protein and absorption of the resulting nutrients. The fibre part is mainly digested in the large intestine.
The small intestine enzymes require alkaline conditions. This is produced by the pancreatic juice from the pancreas and bile from the liver.
Bile is produced within the cells of the liver and is a product of red cell destruction. It is green-yellow colour.
Alkaline, mucus fluid containing bile salts, bile pigments, cholesterol and salts.
Bile neutralises chyme and emulsifies fat.
The horse does not have a gall bladder in which to store bile. Instead bile trickles continuously into the duodenum from the liver via the bile duct.
Pancreas which is a gland which lies along side the duodenum which empties into it by one or more pancreatic ducts.
The main bulk consists of a glands which discharge their alkaline fluid and digestive enzymes via the pancreatic duct into the duodenum. The alkaline fluid (sodium bicarbonate) neutralises the acid content of the duodenum.
It also produces hormone insulin into the blood stream
Further digestive enzymes breakdown the protein resulting in amino acids.
Non-fibrous and soluble foods will also be digested in this short period.
The passage of food in the small intestine is relatively rapid and food will reach the caecum in just over one hour.
Large Intestine is Made Up Of
4 Caecum
5 Large Colon 6 Small Colon 7 Rectum It is 8 meters long. The hind gut digest the complex insoluble carbohydrates. Cellulose and hemi-cellulose are substances which make up plant cell walls. The horse does not have enzymes which would breakdown these complex substances (such as cellulose) Another component of plant material ingested is lignin woody type material which supports the growth of grass stems. Poor quality forage will be high in lignin. This tends to stay around in the hindgut for a long time which gives the horse a characteristic 'hay belly' look. |
Micro-organisms are unable to digest this material lignin. Some micro-organisms are able to breakdown cellulose and
hemi-celluloase by a process of fermentation. The micro-organisms are able to release the locked energy providing nutrients for the horse.
A vast number of micro-organisms accommodate in the large intestine.
The micro-organisms in the digestive tract are huge and number more then ten times all the tissue cells in the horses body.
Caecum is one meter, a large blind ended comma shape sac situated at the end of the small intestine.
It acts as large fermentation vat where fibrous parts of the food are mixed with the micro-organisms.
The caecum lies near the horses right hip bone and runs forward and down to finish midway along the horses belly, laying on
the floor of the abdomen.
The capacity approx 25-35 litres (6-8 gallons)
Large colon is approx 3-4 meters long and a capacity of 90-110 litres. In order to fit into the abdomen it is folded into four regions.
1st part Right Ventral Colon
It runs forward from the caecum until it reaches the sternal flexure.
There is a narrowing of diameter of the colon and it turns back on itself to continue backwards to the second part.
2nd part Left Ventral Colon
Running along the left side of the horse to the pelvic region. The colon then turns again into the pelvic flexure.
The diameter reducing to as little as 9cm (2.5 inches) before it rapidly expands again to continue to the diaphragm
as to the left dorsal colon.
3rd part Left Dorsal Colon
The colon makes a final turn at the diaphragmatic flexure at the right dorsal colon.
4th part Right Dorsal Colon
Runs backwards, narrowing to become the small colon.
The large intestine is held in place by its bulk. The flexures are changes of direction which are vulnerable to
blockages.
The digesta reaches the caecum 3 hours after a meal and remains in the large intestine for 36-48 hours.
Small colon
This is 3-4 meters long but it is narrower then the large colon. It lies intermingled with the jejunum and it is fairly free to move, it can lead to abdominal problem, such as a twisted gut.
Rectum
A short tube, connecting the small colon to the anus. It acts as a storage area for faeces before it is evacuated as dung.
Digestion In The Large Intestine
Water is absorbed throughout the large intestine from the digesta. By the time it has reached the rectum the waste material is of a firm consistency. The main function of the caecum and large intestine is to provide a safe environment for the millions of micro-organisms which digest cellulose and hemi-cellulose.
More then half dry weight of horses faeces are bacteria. These micro-organisms ferment the fibrous part of the diet, but they also synthesis some of the amino-acids and some of the water soluble vitamins mainly B group The micro-organisms consist of bacteria. The number and types of bacteria in the gut depends on the ration fed to the horse.
If there's a sudden change in the diet, this will upset the large intestine. It will have a large affect on the mirco-oranisms and will influence the type of bacteria which can survive in the gut. The micro-organisms ferment insoluble carbohydrate such as cellulose to energy producing substances known as volatile fatty acids.
The principle VFA produced are blood stream and converted to energy. This allows the horse to survive on its natural forage diet.
A change of diet in the horse will change the proportions of propionic acid. If soluble carbohydrates arrives in the caecum (most of this should have been digested in the small intestine) as a result of ingestion of too much hard feed, for example, then this is rapidly reduce this lactic acid to VFAs not present then the pH will drop and serious metabolic problems, e.g. laminitis may result.
The digestive system has to have a good blood supply. If anything interrupts this supply, it will cause the gut to die, colic shock.
hemi-celluloase by a process of fermentation. The micro-organisms are able to release the locked energy providing nutrients for the horse.
A vast number of micro-organisms accommodate in the large intestine.
The micro-organisms in the digestive tract are huge and number more then ten times all the tissue cells in the horses body.
Caecum is one meter, a large blind ended comma shape sac situated at the end of the small intestine.
It acts as large fermentation vat where fibrous parts of the food are mixed with the micro-organisms.
The caecum lies near the horses right hip bone and runs forward and down to finish midway along the horses belly, laying on
the floor of the abdomen.
The capacity approx 25-35 litres (6-8 gallons)
Large colon is approx 3-4 meters long and a capacity of 90-110 litres. In order to fit into the abdomen it is folded into four regions.
1st part Right Ventral Colon
It runs forward from the caecum until it reaches the sternal flexure.
There is a narrowing of diameter of the colon and it turns back on itself to continue backwards to the second part.
2nd part Left Ventral Colon
Running along the left side of the horse to the pelvic region. The colon then turns again into the pelvic flexure.
The diameter reducing to as little as 9cm (2.5 inches) before it rapidly expands again to continue to the diaphragm
as to the left dorsal colon.
3rd part Left Dorsal Colon
The colon makes a final turn at the diaphragmatic flexure at the right dorsal colon.
4th part Right Dorsal Colon
Runs backwards, narrowing to become the small colon.
The large intestine is held in place by its bulk. The flexures are changes of direction which are vulnerable to
blockages.
The digesta reaches the caecum 3 hours after a meal and remains in the large intestine for 36-48 hours.
Small colon
This is 3-4 meters long but it is narrower then the large colon. It lies intermingled with the jejunum and it is fairly free to move, it can lead to abdominal problem, such as a twisted gut.
Rectum
A short tube, connecting the small colon to the anus. It acts as a storage area for faeces before it is evacuated as dung.
Digestion In The Large Intestine
Water is absorbed throughout the large intestine from the digesta. By the time it has reached the rectum the waste material is of a firm consistency. The main function of the caecum and large intestine is to provide a safe environment for the millions of micro-organisms which digest cellulose and hemi-cellulose.
More then half dry weight of horses faeces are bacteria. These micro-organisms ferment the fibrous part of the diet, but they also synthesis some of the amino-acids and some of the water soluble vitamins mainly B group The micro-organisms consist of bacteria. The number and types of bacteria in the gut depends on the ration fed to the horse.
If there's a sudden change in the diet, this will upset the large intestine. It will have a large affect on the mirco-oranisms and will influence the type of bacteria which can survive in the gut. The micro-organisms ferment insoluble carbohydrate such as cellulose to energy producing substances known as volatile fatty acids.
The principle VFA produced are blood stream and converted to energy. This allows the horse to survive on its natural forage diet.
A change of diet in the horse will change the proportions of propionic acid. If soluble carbohydrates arrives in the caecum (most of this should have been digested in the small intestine) as a result of ingestion of too much hard feed, for example, then this is rapidly reduce this lactic acid to VFAs not present then the pH will drop and serious metabolic problems, e.g. laminitis may result.
The digestive system has to have a good blood supply. If anything interrupts this supply, it will cause the gut to die, colic shock.