Saliva
Chewing not only breaks down the food but also produces saliva. The salivary glands of large horses produce about 40 to 90 ml of saliva per minute of chewing. Small horses produce about 20 to 60 ml of saliva per minute. This mixes the food pulp and moistens it thoroughly.
Saliva is alkaline, with a pH value of 7.2 to 8.4. Unlike in humans, horse saliva contains no digestive enzymes, but plenty of minerals and buffering sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3-), often referred to as “bicarbonate”. It is essential for balancing the pH value in the stomach.
The longer the horse chews, the more saliva is produced and the more buffering substances reach the stomach. This is not only important for maintaining stomach health but also ensures the digestive process runs smoothly.
For 1 kg of hay, a large horse chews for about 40 to 50 minutes; for 1 kg of pelleted feed, 10 to 15 minutes. The horse makes about 60 to 80 jaw movements per minute.
You can read why the production of saliva and its buffering effect are so important under ‘Gastric acid’ and ‘Buffer’, for example.
See also: Hay, Buffer, Acid, Hydrochloric acid, Gastric acid, pH value
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