Revisão de literatura: aspectos anatomofisiológicos e comportamentais do processo ingestivo em equinos

Abstract

The natural food source of equines, since prehistory, are pasture. These are herbivorous animals, which have functional caecum, very well developed and small stomach in relation to their size, so their feeding must be constant. With their evolution, the equines were developing strategies of grazing that allow better selection of the diet. Observation and evaluation of animal behavior may be an ally to better manage them. The use of pasture is the most economical way to feed them and allow the freedom of animals admitting that they express their natural behaviors, in addition to having nutritional function, reducing the appearance of digestive and behavioral disorders. Several factors are involved in the equine productive system in pastures, such as plants, animals, climate, availability and quantity of food, time of grazing, leisure, etc., where ingestive behavior of equine pastures is related With all parts of this system. Knowledge of this relationship is important to guide the management and use of pastures for feeding horses. This brings benefits to the animals, depending on the anatomical, physiological and behavioral characteristics of the species