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Equine Alimentary System - Anatomy & Physiology (view source)
Revision as of 10:43, 16 July 2008
, 10:43, 16 July 2008→Microbial Environment
==Microbial Environment==
==Microbial Environment==
*Microbes convert carbohydrates to [[Volatile Fatty Acids - Anatomy & Physioogy|volatile fatty acids]] (VFAs).
*Microbes convert carbohydrates to [[Volatile Fatty Acids - Anatomy & Physioogy|volatile fatty acids]] (VFAs).
**The horse recieves 75% of it's energy requirements from VFAs.
**The large intestine is bufferred by secretion of large amounts of bicarbonate from the pancreas and the ileum. Glands in the wall of the large intestine may also produce bicarbonate.
*The microbial population exists in the caecum and ventral colon.
*The microbial population exists in the caecum and ventral colon.
*It is mixed; there are both bacteria and protozoa.
*It is mixed; there are both bacteria and protozoa.
*The microbial population is dependant on diet and frequency of feeding, as different microbes are suited to digesting different things.
*The microbial population is dependant on diet and frequency of feeding, as different microbes are suited to digesting different things.
**The number of microbes can change 100 fold in a 24 hour period.
**The number of microbes can change 100 fold in a 24 hour period.
*VFAs produced are absorbed across the intestinal wall.
*Urea from the blood is transported to the intestinal lumen to be used by microbes, which also use nitrogen from the diet.
*Environmental factors of the caecum and ventral colon can influence fermentation of microbial population.
*Environmental factors of the caecum and ventral colon can influence fermentation of microbial population.
**Environmental factors include:
**Environmental factors include: