About Lesson
Introduction
The mechanical and chemical breakdown of food in to smaller particles so that it can be absorbed is called digestion.
Digestive tract of poultry is distinct from other animals. The distinct organs are Crop, Proventiculus and gizzard.
Digestive system comprises of following parts
- mouth
- Poultry do not contain teeth
- Ingestion of food occurs through mouth
- Saliva helps in ingestion
- pharynx
- from mouth food passes to it
- common passage for food and air
- contain esophagus/larynx
- Esophagus
- now from esophagus food is transported to stomach
- Crop
- Muscular pouch near throat.
- Helps in storage of food.
- Contain salivary amylase so help in the digestion.
- Proventiculus
- also called glandular/true stomach
- rod shaped organ
- Secrets HCl and pepsinogen help to churn food particles.
- Gizzard
- also called ventriculus or muscular stomach
- helps in grinding of ingested food
- Small intestine (Duodenum, Jejunum, Illeum)
- Different enzymes acts on duodenum, secreted by pancreas, liver, gall bladder.
- Digest the food with bacterial action.
- Absorb nutrients from food
- Large intestine
- Absorb water and remaining undigested food.
- Caeca
- Large tube like structure
- Help in microbial fermentation, water retention
- Empty in every 24 hours.
- Cloaca/vent
- Enlarged area at the end of large intestine.
- Passage of faeces/urine
- also passage of eggs
