{"id":8757,"date":"2023-04-18T09:25:57","date_gmt":"2023-04-18T07:25:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hartog.eu\/?post_type=articles&p=8757"},"modified":"2025-10-30T11:47:05","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T10:47:05","slug":"resolving-thin-manure-causes-and-solutions","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/hartog.eu\/en\/articles\/resolving-thin-manure-causes-and-solutions\/","title":{"rendered":"Resolving Thin Manure: Causes and Solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

One<\/span> of <\/span>the<\/span> most common <\/span>reasons<\/span> for<\/span> thin<\/span> manure<\/span> is a <\/span>disturbed<\/span> intestinal<\/span> flora. Does <\/span>the<\/span> horse have a long <\/span>period<\/span> (<\/span>longer<\/span> than<\/span> two<\/span> months<\/span>) of <\/span>thin<\/span> manure<\/span>? Has a <\/span>manure<\/span> sample <\/span>revealed<\/span> that<\/span> the<\/span> horse is <\/span>not<\/span> infected<\/span> with<\/span> worms<\/span> though<\/span>?\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How <\/span>exactly<\/span> do <\/span>horse<\/span> intestines<\/span> work<\/span>?<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

A large, diverse population of microorganisms live in the thick and blind gut. The bacterial species live in symbiosis with the horse and help with the degradation of parts of the ration that are difficult to digest such as crude fiber\/cellulose. Research has shown that animals that are born and reared sterile require much more food than animals that can build up an intestinal flora with microorganisms. The microorganisms breakdown foods so that the yield from the food rises enormously and the animal uses the nutrients better.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The crude fiber is converted by bacteria into volatile fatty acids such as acetic, butyric and propionic acid. These fatty acids are absorbed into the blood through the intestinal wall and can be stored or used directly as an energy source. The micro-organisms can only survive and do their work in a living environment with a neutral acidity (pH 6\/7).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In order to have sufficient absorption capacity, the intestines are not only long, but also have a very efficient wrinkled wall. The intestinal wall consists of only a single layer of epithelial cells with behind them an extensive arsenal of immune cells. Through this thin wall, nutrients can easily be absorbed from the intestine through the blood into the body. The immune cells ensure that, in addition to nutrients, no microorganisms can enter the blood from the intestine. These microorganisms can cause a lot of damage.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The small intestinal wall is strewn with intestinal villi (intestinal flakes). To enlarge the surface, the intestinal villi are equipped with microvilli. These intestinal villi have a life cycle of three days. Only in the last day of the cycle is the villi fully grown and the volatile fatty acids are maximally absorbed. This cycle can be disrupted in horses with thin dung and colicky symptoms.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is caused by:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n