Poultry Improvement Project

1. Poultry Improvement Project Digestion

2. Definition of Digestion • Process by which large complex nutrient molecules are broken down into simpler molecules capable of being used by the organism for food. • Done by digestive enzymes • Enzymes are organic catalysts • produced by certain cells within the body • speed biochemical reactions.

3. Chicken Digestion

4. The Chicken Digestive System • The digestive system of poultry differs considerably from other simple stomached animals. • Feed enters through the beak • No teeth • No chewing • Feed then goes to the Esophagus • Empties into crop • Storage bin • Stored • Soaked • Feed then passes to the granular stomach • AKA Proventriculus • Digestive juices are added to help w breakdown • Similar to human stomach

5. Digestive System Cont. • Feed then enters the gizzard • Muscular organ • Normally contains stones or grit. • Where feed is crushed and ground. • Feed then moves through the small intestine • It moves by peristaltic movement • Muscles vibrating to move material • The feed is completely broken down here and absorption of nutrients take place here.

6. Inside of a Small Intestine

7. Digestion-Continued • What’s left after absorption in the small intestine goes to the large intestine. • Water removed from waste • Ceca-two blind pouches found between small and large intestine. • There function is unknown but they do • Contain undigested feed. • Cloaca-where the large intestine joins the vent • Vent-Waste, urine, and eggs are passed out

8. Accessory Organs • Liver-secretes bile to help digest fats • Gall bladder-stores bile • Pancreas-secretes(forms and gives off) enzymes to break down nutrients

9. Length of Digestion • From the time the food enters the beak until it leaves through the vent is: • 8-12 hours in non laying poultry. • 2 1/2 hours in laying poultry.