Topics:
Animal Nutrition, Animal Refresher
Faecal Energy Loss in Pigs
Faecal energy (FE) loss in case of pig is ______ % of gross energy intake.
- 5-10
- 20 — Correct Answer
- 30
- 40
Explanation:
Correct Answer: 20%
Pigs are monogastric animals that consume highly digestible diets (mainly grains and concentrates). Their faecal energy loss is only 20% of GEi — the lowest among farm animals — because their small intestine efficiently digests and absorbs nutrients.
Faecal Energy Loss — Full Comparison Table
| Species / Condition | Faecal Energy Loss (% GEi) |
|---|---|
| Ruminant (roughage) | 40–50% |
| Horse | 35–40% |
| Ruminant (concentrate) | 20–30% |
| Pig | 20% |
Urinary Energy Loss in Pigs
- Pigs lose only 2–3% of GEi as urinary energy (compared to 4–5% in ruminants)
- Methane production is negligible in pigs (no rumen fermentation)
- Therefore, pigs have the highest energy efficiency among common farm animals
Why Other Options Are Wrong
- 5–10% → unrealistically low; even pigs on highly digestible diets lose ~20%
- 30% → correct for ruminants on concentrate; overestimates pig's faecal loss
- 40% → correct for horse; significantly overestimates pig's loss
📚 About this Topic — Animal Nutrition
This multiple choice question is from Animal Nutrition, Animal Refresher. It has 4 options with a detailed explanation of the correct answer. Practice more MCQs from Animal Nutrition to strengthen your preparation.
