Equine Digestive System

The equine digestive system processes feed in stages. Food enters the mouth, is chewed to break down fibers, and then moves to the stomach, where initial digestion occurs. Next, it advances to the small intestine, where nutrients are absorbed. Unused material proceeds to the large intestine, including the cecum and colon, which ferment fibrous plant material with the help of bacteria, extracting nutrients and producing energy. Waste is finally passed as manure. This system is designed for continuous grazing on forage, relying heavily on microbial fermentation in the hindgut to maximize nutrient extraction.