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Equine Science Digestion and Nutrition General Description All parts of the horse involved in taking food into the body and converting it into useable forms for maintenance, growth, and reproduction. Approximately 100 feet long with a capacity of 40-50 gallons! Anatomy Major Part % Capacity of Total System Mouth Pharynx 1% Esophagus Stomach 10% Small Intestine 30% Large Intestine 60% Mouth – grab, prepare, and go From the lips to the pharynx. Prehension Loose Feed – use lips to pickup and tongue to pass into mouth Grazing – grasp with incisor teeth Drinking – uses tongue drawn back in mouth as piston, 1 cup/gulp Mastication Grind between molars and mix with saliva Bolus Formation Ground up food, called chyme, molded into ball (bolus) by tongue and mouth Swallowing Base of tongue forces food into pharynx Pharynx – four-way intersestion Short, funnel-shaped, muscular tube in back of throat Differs from humans because of soft palate…mouth is one-way! Horses cannot breathe through their mouth! Horses cannot throw up! Esophagus – transfer bolus from mouth to stomach Muscular tube connecting the pharynx to the stomach Peristalsis – wave-like action of smooth muscle moving food through digestive tract Regurgitation also impossible because of odd angle of esophageal sphincter Management Tip: Food or water from the nose is a sure sign the horse has choked! Stomach – primary digestion of food U-shaped muscular sac in front part of abdomen “True stomach” is where the HCl or gastric juices are secreted Stomach fills up from back to front Four Regions Esophageal – sphincter Cardiac – secretes HCl Fundic – main body of the stomach, protective lining Pyloric - sphincter Small Intestine – further digestion and nutrient absorption Extends from stomach to cecum; about 70’ long, 2” in diameter with 12 gallon capacity Distinct u-shape, folds and coils near left flank Supported by the mesentery, fan-shaped membranes Three Regions Duodenum – bile (liver), enzymes (pancreas), mucous, and others Jejunum – majority of absorption Ileum – final absorption Large Intestine – cellulose digestion through fermentation Rely on bacteria to digest plant material, material moves slowly to give time Five Regions Cecum Digestion and absorption of nutrients Elongated sac extending from high right flank down to the diaphragm 4’ long with an 8-gallon capacity Contents are always liquid Large Colon Bacterial action and come further digestion 12’ long with a 20-gallon capacity Usually packed with food Small Colon Moisture re-absorption Solid content, formation of balls of feces 10’ long Rectum Anus
