Rates of Passage of Digesta and Water Absorption along the Large Intestines of Sheep, Cows and Pigs

Abstract

In 5 cows, the mean length of the large intestine was only slightly greater than that of 21 sheep and 3 pigs. At about one-fifth of the way along the large intestine of the sheep and cows, corresponding to the end of the proximal colon and start of the spiral colon, there were marked reductions in the amount of digesta present and in the lumen diameter. In pigs these parameters decreased gradually along the large intestine.