6.6: Monogastric Herbivores (Hindgut Fermenters)

Introduction to Animal Science · LibreTexts

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    Horses digest fiber only about two-thirds as efficiently as ruminants. Soluble carbohydrates are digested and absorbed in the small intestine, while fiber fractions are fermented in the large intestine and colon.

    Unique Stomach Features:

    • Smaller capacity compared to other mammals of similar size
    • Reduced muscular activity compared to other species
    • These factors increase susceptibility to digestive disorders such as colic and stomach rupture

    No Gallbladder – Horses evolved as continuous grazers and had no need for bile storage between meals

    Large Intestine and Cecum – Account for over 60% of total gut capacity. The cecum and large colon harbor bacterial populations similar to those of ruminants. These microorganisms ferment fiber into volatile fatty acids (VFAs), which provide the majority of energy for horses on forage diets.

    Limited Protein Utilization – Bacteria synthesize protein in the hindgut, but horses cannot absorb it effectively since it passes beyond the small intestine. Horses on poor diets may practice coprophagy (eating feces) to reclaim some of this bacterial protein.

    Horses grazing in a mountainous field during a sunset.

    Image credit: Brian from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-b...n-grass-60112/

    This page titled 6.6: Monogastric Herbivores (Hindgut Fermenters) was last modified on Sat, 02 May 2026 03:51:13 GMT and is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Deanne Pawlisch.