Horses absorb most minerals from their intestines, with the small intestine being the primary site of absorption. After a horse ingests food, the minerals are broken down by the digestive process and then absorbed into the bloodstream through the walls of the small intestine. From there, the minerals are transported to various parts of the body where they are used for various functions
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Enzymes are proteins that catalyse chemical reactions in the body. They are essential for many biological processes, including digestion, metabolism, and cellular repair. Enzymes are specific to the reactions they catalyse and play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of chemical reactions in the body.
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Phytase is an enzyme that breaks down phytic acid, which is found in plants. Phytic acid is a compound that binds to minerals, such as phosphorus and calcium, making them unavailable for absorption by the body. Phytase breaks down phytic acid, releasing the bound minerals and making them available for absorption by the body.
Fructanase is an enzyme that breaks down fructans, which are complex sugars found in plants. Fructans are a type of polysaccharide, which are long chains of sugar molecules. Fructanase helps to break down these complex sugars into simpler sugars like glucose, which can be easily absorbed and utilized by the body.
The role of xylanase in a horse is to break down complex sugars found in plant cell walls, such as xylan, into simpler sugars that the horse can use for energy. This process aids in the digestion of forage and hay, which are major components of a horse’s diet. By breaking down xylan, xylanase helps the horse to extract energy from these plant-based feeds and maintain their overall health and well-being.
The role of cellulase in a horse is to break down complex sugars found in plant cell walls, such as cellulose, into simpler sugars that the horse can use for energy. This process aids in the digestion of forage and hay, which are major components of a horse’s diet. By breaking down cellulose, cellulase helps the horse to extract energy from these plant-based feeds and maintain their overall health and well-being.
Horses produce amylase in their salivary glands and pancreas. When a horse eats, the salivary glands release amylase into the mouth, where it begins to break down complex sugars in the food. This process helps to pre-digest the food before it reaches the stomach and intestines, where the rest of the digestive process takes place. The pancreas also produces amylase, which is released into the small intestine to continue the process of breaking down complex sugars
