Topics:
Animal Nutrition, Animal Refresher
Behavioral Definition of Caecotrophy
Caecotrophy is the:
- Re-ingestion of soft faeces by rabbit — Correct Answer
- Eating of feed-stuff by rabbit
- Eating of own species
- All the above
Explanation:
Correct Answer: Re-ingestion of soft faeces by rabbit
Caecotrophy specifically defines the behavior where lagomorphs (rabbits) directly consume specialized, mucus-coated, nutrient-dense soft night faeces (cecotropes) straight from the anus before they reach the ground, to digest them a second time in the stomach and small intestine.
Rabbit Digestive Biology — Key Facts
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type of fermenter | Hindgut fermenter (fermentation in caecum & colon) |
| Hard faeces | Produced during the day |
| Soft faeces (cecotropes) | Produced during the night — these are re-ingested |
| Onset of caecotrophy | 3 weeks of age |
| Preventing caecotrophy leads to | ↓ digestibility, ↓ protein utilization, ↓ nitrogen retention |
📚 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.
