Digestive system

Monogastric Digestive

Simple stomached animals

Do not depend much on a microbial digestion

Referred to as non ruminants

EX: Dogs, poultry, rats, cats, rabbits and humans

Function of the stomach:

Storage of ingested feeds

Muscual movement causing physical breakdown

Secretes gastric juices

kill bacteria and activates digestive enzymes

Pepsinogen

Initates protein digestion

Mucus

Protects stomach wall from acid and protein

Rennin

Produced in young animals

Cogulates milk for slow passage

Small intestine

Divided into three sections:

Jejunum, Lleum, and Duodenum

Duodenum (First section)

Receives secretion from liver, bile in gallbladder

Jejunum (Middle section)

Active in nutrient absoprtion

Lleum (Last section)

Active in nutrient absoption

Large intestine

Divided into three parts: Cecum, colon and rectum

Cecum (First section)

Size varies depending on the species’

Little function in the pig

Colon (Middle section)

Largest part of the large intestine

Horse will have two colon classification: Large and small colon

Function of the large intestine

Size of water absorption

Bacteria fermentation

• Synthesis of water soluble vitamins

• Breakdown of fibrous vitamins

• Synthesis of Volatile fatty acids

• Limited absoprtion

Primary difference of horse digestive system from swine digestive system

Enlarged cecum and no gall bladder

Horse digestive system: Stomach

8-17 quarts

Does not have extensive muscular movement as other species

Ingesta arranges in layers, which can cause digestive disorders

Horse digestive system: Cecum

Contains micobial activity similiar to the rumen

• Bacterial breakdown of cellulose → Produces volatile fatty acids

• Bacterial synthesis if water soluble vitamins

• Bacterial synthesis of proteins

Horse digestive system: Small Intestine

Composed of three small compartments

Same as the pig except horse has no gallbladder

Horse digestive system: Large intestine

Accounts for 60% of the horse GIT capacity '

Cecum - Large colon - Small colon - Rectum

Horse digestive system: Cecum and large colon

Contains active flora similar to that of the rumen

Bacteria break down cellulose and other carbohyrdates mateials to produce VFA

• Allowing horses to utilize firbrous feeds

• Large intestine is usually expanded with ingesta

Horse digestive system: Small colon

Primary area of water resorption from intestinal contents