Test 6 Flashcards
What is the most significant difference in feeding horses compared to other domestic livestock?
The purpose for which they are being used
Why is there very little experimental information on the nutritional needs of the horse?
Not a large enough industry to support research–it is broken down into many smaller segments.
What is the upper part of the GI tract in horses similar to?
Monogastric GI tract
What is at the lower end of the GI tract in horses?
Large fermentation organ– cecum
Where do ruminants ferment feed?
The beginning of the GI tract
Where do horses digest cellulose?
At the end of the GI tract
Ruminants and horses eat at different rates, what are the rates?
Ruminants eat rapidly and “store” in the rumen for leisurely rumination later
Horses must eat more slowly to not force feed through GI tract too rapidly (before digestion is complete)
Why is forcing feed through the GI tract of horses too quickly a problem?
It can cause undigested feed to enter the cecum and starch residues will be fermented rapidly causing excessive gas production
What type of digestive system does a horse have?
Nonruminant herbivore
What is hindgut fermentation primarily for?
Fibrous feeds
What are the principal microbial inhabitants of the equine gut similar to?
Rumen of ruminant animals
What does fermentation result in the production of?
CO2
CH4
VFA
Is methane production less in the hindgut or the rumen?
Hindgut
How much of the total energy intake is methane production equivalent to?
Less than 3%
Where are VFAs readily absorbed?
Hindgut
How much energy utilized comes from VFAs?
30% or more
Other than VFAs, what can also result in a significant amount of glucose production?
Propionate
Why is fiber not utilized by a horse as efficiently as cattle?
They have a faster rate of passage and the microflora do not have as much time to digest the fiber
What does bacteria in the hindgut produce?
Protein and water soluble vitamins
What is coprophagy?
Process of eating feces
What does proper feeding do?
Reduce the incidence of colic and other digestive problems
The horse is a grazing animal, so when does it perform optimally?
When a slow, steady supply of fermentable material is allowed for the microflora
Research has shown that feeding how many times a day is best?
Several times a day
Research showed that on a high energy, low fiber diet and fed twice a day, what happened to microbial activity and the horse?
Microbial activity was adversely influences and predisposed the horse to more digestive disturbances