Hindgut Fermenter Animals

Which of the following is a hindgut fermenter-

Correct Answer: All the above

Horse, Rabbit, and Ostrich are all hindgut fermenters. Fermentation occurs after enzymatic digestion, primarily in the caecum and large intestine.

Three Types of Digestive Systems

• Foregut fermenters: Ruminants (Cattle, Buffalo, Sheep, Goat, Deer, Yak, Mithun, Giraffe, Nilgai) and Pseudo-ruminants (Camel, Llama, Alpaca, Vicuna) — fermentation before digestion, mainly in rumen/forestomach
• Hindgut fermenters: Horse, Rabbit, Ostrich, Rat — fermentation after digestion, in caecum and large intestine
• Normal GIT (no fermentation chamber): Pig, Dog, Human — no significant fermentation

Special Feature of Rabbit — Cecotrophy (Coprophagy)

• Rabbits produce two types of feces: Hard pellets (day) and Soft caecotropes (night)
• Rabbits eat soft caecotropes at night to recover microbial proteins and B-vitamins produced in caecum — compensates for nutrient loss since fermentation is post-absorptive in hindgut