Faecal Energy Loss in Horses

Correct Answer: 35–40% of GEi

The horse, being a hindgut fermenter, has faecal energy loss of 35–40% of GEi. This is intermediate between ruminants on concentrate (20–30%) and ruminants on roughage (40–50%).

Why Horses Have High Faecal Losses Compared to Pigs?

Horses ferment fibre in the caecum and colon (hindgut), but fermentation occurs after enzymatic digestion. Since the VFAs produced in the hindgut are partially absorbed but less efficiently than in the rumen, more energy is lost in faeces.

Hindgut Fermenters

• Horse, Rabbit, Ostrich — fermentation in caecum and colon

Foregut Fermenters

• Ruminants (cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, camel) — fermentation before enzymatic digestion (rumen)
• Pig has some foregut fermentation in stomach but is primarily monogastric