Download Animal Systems, Notes

Animal Systems, Notes
The Horse, Digestive System
 Non-ruminant herbivore
 Simple single compartment stomach
 Works similar to a human
Digestive System
Mouth
 Teeth are used to harvest food
 Overbite or Under bite have problems harvesting food
 Food mixes with saliva to be easily swallowed
Esophagus
 Simple muscular tube carries food from mouth to the stomach
 Valve leading to stomach is strong and makes vomiting impossible
 Large over consumption of food will rupture stomach
Stomach
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Small in relation to animal size, only 10% of the digestive system capacity
Best for the animal to eat small amounts often
Stomach mixes food with pepsin and HCL (acid) to break down solid
particles
Small Intestines
 Approx. 70 ft long, can hold 48 quarts (12 gallons)
 Major organ of horse digestion
 Food is digested and absorbed through the walls of the small intestine
Cecum
 Sack approx. 40 ft. long and can hold 40 quarts (10 gallons)
 Microbial inoculation vat
 Breaks down feed that was not digested in the small intestine (mainly hay
and pasture)
 Entrance and Exit are both at the top
 Food enters, mixes and is then expelled
 If animal does not receive adequate water with dry feed, or has a rapid
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change of diet food can compact in the lower end causing pain
Microbial population is somewhat specific as to the feedstuffs it can digest
Colon
Also called the Large Intestine
12 feet long can hold 80 quarts (20 gallons)
Final stage of digestion and absorption occur
Water is absorbed resulting in fecal ball formation
Fecal balls are then passed to the rectum