Gut Structure - Donkey
The structure of the donkey’s gut
The structure and function of the donkey’s gut is remarkably similar to that of the horse, with no obvious physical features that account for its superior efficiency. The intestine of the donkey is ~24 metres long and has a total maximal capacity of ~160 litres. However, the total volume of gut contents rarely exceeds a third of the maximal capacity. Starting at the mouth, ingested food passes via the oesophagus to the stomach (~9% of total gut capacity), small intestine (~30% of total capacity), caecum (~16% of total capacity), colon (~38% of total capacity) and rectum (~7% of total capacity) to the anus where, after 24 to 35 hours, it is evacuated as faeces.
One way in which donkeys adapt to high-fibre diets (such as straw) is to use the full capacity of their large intestine (caecum and colon) so forage can be retained for longer and be digested more thoroughly. This increased capacity of the large intestine may give straw-fed donkeys a ‘pot’ belly, which conspires with their angular body frame to give the appearance of ill thrift. Consequently, donkey-keepers should use the body condition scoring system developed by The Donkey Sanctuary as a guideline to the condition of their donkeys rather than relying on the often-deceptive visual appearance. Body condition scoring systems developed for horses should not be applied to donkeys because the two species store fat in different parts of their bodies.
Upon consumption, food must be converted into a form that can be readily absorbed and used by the body to meet nutritional demands. Prior to absorption, any complex structures must be digested into simple soluble forms by the combined processes of physical and chemical breakdown.
References
- Smith, D. and Wood, S. (2008) Donkey nutrition In Svendsen, E.D., Duncan, J. and Hadrill, D. (2008) The Professional Handbook of the Donkey, 4th edition, Whittet Books, Chapter 1
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This section was sponsored and content provided by THE DONKEY SANCTUARY |
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