GI: Hindgut Fermenters

Question 1

Contrast the digestive strategies of ruminants and cecal digesters such as the horse

Answer 1

Hindgut fermenters: horses, guinea pigs, rhinos, rabbits
Fermentation vat after SI, can’t absorb fermentation products in SI. ccal and colon motility (mixing and propulsion). Structural CHO, ferments in LI.

Hindgut fermentation sped up/aided by prior gastric action
Many sugars and starches already digested and absorbed
Microbially produces protein is wasted because LI can’t absorb protein, rabbits eat their poop to get that back.
Another difference: no salivary buffering but bicarbonate and phosphate buffer rich fluid is secreted by the ileum. There is also large fluxes of water
Laminitis and colic can result from a diet change.
Camelids have 3 compartments in foregut.

*Colic just means abdominal pain.