Topics:
Animal Nutrition, Animal Refresher
Consequences of Preventing Coprophagy
Prevention of coprophagy in rabbit will leads to:
- Decrease in the ability to digest food
- Decrease in protein utilization
- Decrease in nitrogen retention
- All the above — Correct Answer
Explanation:
Correct Answer: All the above
Prevention of coprophagy (caecotrophy) in rabbits leads to all three negative consequences: decreased food digestibility, decreased protein utilisation, and decreased nitrogen retention — because the soft caecal pellets are nutritionally vital.
Coprophagy/Caecotrophy in Rabbits — Key Facts
- Definition: Ingestion of specially produced soft faecal pellets (caecotropes) produced at night
- Also known as: Pseudo-rumination
- Begins in domestic rabbits at 3 weeks of age
- Hard faeces: produced during the day
- Soft faeces (caecotropes): produced at night
Consequences of Preventing Coprophagy
| Consequence | Mechanism |
|---|---|
| ↓ Digestibility of food | Caecotropes contain microbial enzymes; not recycled |
| ↓ Protein utilisation | Caecotropes contain microbial protein (B-vitamins, amino acids) |
| ↓ Nitrogen retention | Less protein absorbed when caecotropes are not consumed |
Why Caecotropes Are Nutritionally Important
- Rich in microbial protein, B-vitamins (especially B12), and volatile fatty acids
- Allows the rabbit to utilise hindgut fermentation products — similar to ruminant strategy
Why Other Options Are Wrong
- Each individual consequence is correct — preventing coprophagy impairs all three simultaneously, making "All the above" the complete answer
📚 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.
