Cecotrophy in the Rabbit PDF

hindgut fermenter Cecotrophy in the Rabbit coprophagic Large intestinal anatomy: 1. Cecum comprises 40% of the total volume of the gastrointestinal tract main site for fermentation 2. Proximal col...

hindgut fermenter Cecotrophy in the Rabbit coprophagic Large intestinal anatomy: 1. Cecum comprises 40% of the total volume of the gastrointestinal tract main site for fermentation 2. Proximal colon is enlarged and haustrated provides cecal retropulsion 3. A muscular ‘sphincter’ (termed the fusi coli) is located at the junction of proximal and distal colon (at transverse colon) Large intestinal physiology: 1. Course, undigestible material is separated from more digestible material at fusi coli a. Digestible material refluxed to cecum by cecal retropulsion for fermentation b. Course material passed as dry fecal pellets (“hard feces”) during day or "day feces"  non-fibrous 2. Approximately 8 hours after feeding, the fermented cecal material is formed as discrete mucus covered pellets (cecotrophs or “soft feces”) and passed separately from the hard pellets moved by "mass movements" - a train of large intestinal peristalsis a. Cecotrophs are typically passed at night (hence the term “night stool”) b. Cecotrophs are very moist and rich in B-vitamins, vitamin K and bacterial protein c. Presence of cecotrophs in rectum stimulates reflex licking of the anal area, resulting in consumption of the soft, cecal pellets direct from anus to mouth d. Housing rabbits on wire-bottomed floors will not prevent cecotrophy cecotrophs never hit the ground