The Equine GIT

Question 1

What are the two types of teeth?

Answer 1

Hypsodont and brachyodont teeth

Question 2

Describe hypsodont teeth

Answer 2

These teeth continually grow and need to be worn down. They are suited to animals that have evolved to eat a gritty fibrous diet, such as horses, cows and deer.

Question 3

Describe brachyodont teeth

Answer 3

These teeth are a set size and are more suited to holding, tearing and shredding food.

Question 4

What is the issue with feeding high levels of concentrates?

Answer 4

As horses have hysodont teeth that need to be worn down, high levels of concentrates do not do this, so the teeth are able to grow too long.

Question 5

What are the 4 compartments of the ruminent stomach?

Answer 5

• the rumen
• the reticulum
• the omasum
• the abomasum

Question 6

Describe the reticulum

Answer 6

Has a honeycomb lining and no secretions. This is where bolus is formed, regurgitation is initiated and things that should not be eaten are collected.

Question 7

Describe the rumen

Answer 7

The portion of the stomach that is full of good bacteria where forage is fermented. It has the enzyme cellulase which breaks down cellulose. The first portion of the stomach.

Question 8

Describe the omasum

Answer 8

Has a laminae lining and muscular folds and no secretions. Reduces particle size and absorbs 60% of water and volatile fatty acids to prevent buffering of the abomasum.

Question 9

Describe the abomasum

Answer 9

Produces pepsin, the enzyme for breaking down proteins. It is the last portion of the stomach.

Question 10

What are the components of the equine GIT?

Answer 10

The oesophagus, the stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, anus

Question 11

Define SALIVA

Answer 11

Saliva is a watery liquid secreted into the mouth by glands, providing lubrication for chewing and swallowing, and aiding digestion.

Question 12

Where and when is saliva produced in a horse?

Answer 12

Saliva is secreted only when the horse chews, which can be between 10-12l.
It is produced by the paratoid, sub-lingual and mandibular glands.

Question 13

What is the size of each of the horse’s gut compartments?

Answer 13

Stomach - 8% of total GIT
Small intestine - 30%
Large intestine - 62%

Question 14

Describe the equine stomach

Answer 14

• has around 25l of secretions per day, which are triggered by the presence of food.
• secretions are controlled by hormones and by nerve stretch receptors
• ## pepsinogen is the inactive form of pepsin and is there to ensure that the stomach does not digest itself.

Question 15

What is secreted in the small intestine?

Answer 15

duodenal juice (acts as a lubricant),

pancreatic juice (controlled by the two hormones secretin and CCK-PZ),

bile (constantly release and aids the digestion of lipids. Can damage the SI if there is no food)

succus entericus (intestinal fluid of which a small amount is secreted in the SI).

Question 16

Describe the small intestine

Answer 16

Made up of the duodenum jejunum and the ileum.

Question 17

Describe the large intestine

Answer 17

Made up of the caecum, the large and small colon and the rectum. Microbial digestion takes place, but no enzymes are produced. Lots of water is absorbed here.

Question 18

What are the micro organisms in the gut?

Answer 18

These mosty reside in the hindgut and require a constant internal environment in order to stay effective. They ferment fibre and release nutrient that the horse can absorb, such as VFA and vitamins B and complex K

Question 19

What is the significance of the liver/pancreas?

Answer 19

• they are accessory organs to the digestive process
• the liver produces bile
• the pancreas produces pancreatic juice and digestive enzymes