Digestive physiology of the horse.

This research article discusses the recent findings of studies on the horse’s digestive physiology, indicating that different parts of the horse’s digestive system are responsible for digesting and absorbing different types of nutrients.

Research Overview

The research paper provides an overview of current studies on the digestive physiology of horses. It details the digestion and absorption functions of diverse parts of the horse’s digestive system and identifies how various factors may affect these processes.

Horse Digestive Physiology

According to the review, the researchers identified that:

• The small intestine in horses primarily digests and absorbs proteins, soluble carbohydrates, most minerals, fats, fat soluble and water soluble vitamins. This means these nutrients are primarily broken down and utilized for the body in this section of the equine digestive system.
• The large intestine, on the other hand, is responsible for fibre digestion and net water absorption. This means that this part of the horse’s digestive system is crucial for processing roughage and ensuring the animal stays hydrated.
• Significant amounts of phosphorus, an important mineral for bone health among other things, are also absorbed from the large intestine.

Factors Influencing Digestive Ability

The review also discusses the various factors that can influence a horse’s digestive ability:

• The rate of passage, or the speed at which food moves through the digestive system, can play a substantial role in how effectively nutrients are digested and absorbed.
• How feeds are processed can also have an impact. For instance, feeds that are more finely ground may be easier for the horse to digest and absorb.
• Level of intake, or how much food the horse consumes, is another important factor. If a horse eats too much or too little, it could affect the efficiency of the digestive process.
• Work, or the amount of physical activity a horse gets, can affect digestion. More active horses may have faster metabolic rates and hence digest food more quickly.
• Finally, the maturity of the plant that the horse consumes can also influence how effectively it can be digested. Younger, less mature plants might be easier for the horse’s system to break down and absorb than older, more mature plants.