Utilization of caecal digesta by caecotrophy (soft faeces ingestion) in the rabbit

Hörnicke, H.

doi:10.1016/0301-6226(81)90054-3

Cited by 33 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…the fermentation compartment is located after the enzymatic digestion area and thus microbial biomass synthesised in the large intestine is mostly wasted with the faeces (Hörnicke, 1981). In order to recycle this nutritious material, lagomorphs, such as rabbits have developed a physiological mechanism, termed caecotrophy, involving ingestion of soft faeces (caecotrophes), originating from a selective retention process actively performed in the main fermentation compartment, the caecum, and proximal colon (Fioramonti and Ruckebusch, 1976;Leng and Hörnicke, 1976;Hörnicke, 1981). Caecal fermentation may be manipulated through the diet to improve the microbial contribution to rabbit protein nutrition.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of carbohydrate source on microbial nitrogen recycling in growing rabbits

Belenguer

Abecia²,

Belanche³

et al. 2012

Livestock Science

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a b s t r a c tIn rabbits, caecal fermentation relies to a large extent on the type of substrate available for bacteria. Therefore, in order to study the dietary effect of the source of carbohydrate on microbial nitrogen (N) absorption, thirty-two New Zealand growing male rabbits were randomly assigned to four diets formulated using two sources of structural carbohydrates (fibre), alfalfa hay (AH) and sugar beet pulp (SBP), combined with two sources of non-structural carbohydrates (starch), wheat or maize, at a constant fibre/ grain sources ratio (0.80/0.20). Microbial N intake was estimated by preventing caecotrophy with a neck collar and, indirectly, by using urinary purine derivative (PD) excretion and microbial 15 N-lysine incorporation. No effect of diet on growth was detected (average growth rate 26.6 7 0.69 g/d), although dry matter (DM) intake was greater in animals fed diets with AH as main source of fibre than those receiving SBP (100.2 vs. 90.1 g/d; P o 0.01). Nonetheless, the latter diets were better digested and no significant differences were observed in digestible organic matter (OM) intake. Between sources of starch, digestibility of DM, OM and N was greater with wheat than maize (P o 0.05). Microbial activity in the caecum was stimulated by SBP diets, as indicated by a greater volatile fatty acid concentration (89.6 vs. 67.5 mmol/L; P o 0.01) and a lower pH (5.7 vs. 6.2; P o 0.001). Significantly higher amino acid 15 N-enrichments in both caecotrophes and liver were observed with SBP diets and also in maize-fed rabbits when SBP was the main fibre source. However, microbial contribution to tissue amino acids (0.37 7 0.008) was not affected by the type of fibre.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of carbohydrate source on microbial nitrogen recycling in growing rabbits

Belenguer

Abecia²,

Belanche³

et al. 2012

Livestock Science

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“…The increment in bacterial N in fecal matters is particularly essential for cecotrophic animals like rabbits. Rabbits reingest a significant amount of cecotrophs (or soft feces), which are subsequently digested and absorbed in the stomach and small intestine and make a significant contribution to the total protein requirement (Hö rnicke, 1981;Belenguer et al, 2005). When animals consume a low-protein diet, the conversion of blood urea N into bacterial N in the large intestine caused by fermentable carbohydrates is more evident (Levrat et al, 1993;Younes et al, 1996).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transfer of blood urea nitrogen to cecal microbial nitrogen is increased by mannitol feeding in growing rabbits fed timothy hay diet

Xiao

Jin

et al. 2012

Animal

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The presence of the fermentable sugar D-mannitol in the diet improves nitrogen (N) utilization in rabbits. To clarify the mechanism by which D-mannitol improves N utilization, we studied the effect of D-mannitol on the fate of blood urea N in growing rabbits. Growing rabbits received a control diet or a diet containing D-mannitol, which were formulated by adding 80 g/kg glucose or D-mannitol to timothy hay. After 9 days of feeding of the experimental diets, 15 N-urea was administrated intravenously under anesthesia 1 h before slaughter. The blood urea level (concentration of both urea N (43.6% of the control group (CG), P , 0.05) and 15 N (95% of the CG, P , 0.05) in blood serum) was reduced in the mannitol group. The concentration and amount of N, and 15 N atom % excess in the contents of the cecum and colon were higher (P , 0.05) in the rabbits fed the mannitol diet than in rabbits fed the control diet, especially in the cecum. The consumption of mannitol caused bacterial proliferation in the cecum characterized by marked short-chain fatty acid production (165% of the CG, P , 0.05), decreased cecal ammonia N (73% of the CG, P , 0.05) and elevated cecal bacterial N (150% of the CG, P , 0.05). On the other hand, addition of D-mannitol to the diet decreased N (80% of the CG, P , 0.05) and 15 N (77% of the CG, P , 0.05) excretion in the urine. These results indicate that D-mannitol increases the transfer of blood urea N to the large intestine, where it is used for bacterial N synthesis.Keywords: fermentable sugar, D-mannitol, nitrogen, growing rabbits ImplicationsCecotrophy allows rabbits to reingest microbial products from the cecum as cecotrophs. Cecotrophy has considerable significance for nitrogen (N) metabolism in rabbits. A previous study indicated that as a fermentable sugar, D-mannitol increases N utilization through cecotrophy by deceasing urinary N excretion in rabbits. In the present study, we clarified the possible mechanism by which D-mannitol improves N utilization in growing rabbits. The results indicate that D-mannitol can be used as a cecal microbial stimulator to promote the utilization rate of dietary N in rabbits fed a diet of timothy hay. Moreover, it might aid in reducing the N load passed on to the environment. IntroductionIt is well documented that fermentable carbohydrates can increase urea flux from the blood to the digestive tract and alter fermentation in the large intestine of rats (Ré mé sy and Demigné, 1989;Younes et al., 1995b;Henningsson et al., 2002). In rabbits, a considerable portion of endogenous urea is transferred to the alimentary tract (Regoeczi et al., 1965), and the exchange between blood urea nitrogen (N) and cecal ammonia N is well established Parker, 1985a and1985b). However, the exact fate of blood urea in rabbits fed a diet containing fermentable sugar remains unclear.Urea, as an end product of ammonia and protein metabolism, is synthesized in the liver of mammals and passed into the blood stream (Stewart and Smith, 2005). Most of the blood urea is eliminated ...

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“…Bacteria in the cecum of rabbits play an important role in the production of protein (Belenguer et al, ), vitamins (Hörnicke, ), and volatile FA (Amici et al, ; Xiccato et al, ). Bacteria in the cecum also modify FA and contribute to PUFA synthesis from the dietary intake of linoleic and linolenic acids (Amici et al, ; Bauman et al, ; Papadomichelakis et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Both Dietary Fatty Acids and Those Present in the Cecotrophs Contribute to the Distinctive Chemical Characteristics of New Zealand Rabbit Milk Fat

López

Santos

Landaverde

et al. 2018

Lipids

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The relationship between the fatty acid (FA) profile of cecotrophs and that of the milk fat was evaluated in nine multiparous New Zealand does during the first 12 days of lactation. Milk samples were obtained manually on days 6, 8, 10, and 12 postpartum and cecotrophs and feces were collected on days 7, 9, and 11 postpartum. The FA profiles of feed, milk, cecotrophs, and feces were determined using gas chromatography. The principal FA found in rabbits’ milk were 8:0, 10:0, 16:0, 18:1 cis‐9, and 18:2 n‐6. Bacteria‐derived FA found in the milk fat included branched FA from 14 to 16 carbons, and 18:1 trans. Two isomers of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) were also present, namely cis‐9,trans‐11 (0.09 ± 0.006 mol%) and trans‐10,cis‐12 (0.06 ± 0.01 mol%). The content of total FA in the cecotrophs was the 1.10 ± 0.08 mg/100 mg freeze‐dried sample, with 2.50 ± 0.83 mol% 18:1 trans‐11. Significant correlations between cecotroph and milk FA profiles were found for numerous FA, and those with correlation coefficients greater than 0.90 were 12:0, 14:0, 15:0, 16:0, 18:0, 18:1 trans‐6/8, 18:1 trans‐9, 18:1 cis‐9, 18:2 n‐6, 18:3 n‐3, 20:1 cis‐9, 20:2 n‐6, and 22:0. Cecum biohydrogenation processes were evident based on the greater content of saturated FA (p = 0.008) found (54.46 ± 4.37 mol%) in the cecotrophs relative to that in feces (43.08 ± 4.37 mol%). Under conditions of the present study, the milk FA profile was influenced by the FA profile of diet and the cecotrophs consumed by lactating does.

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Utilization of caecal digesta by caecotrophy (soft faeces ingestion) in the rabbit

Cited by 33 publications

References 8 publications

Effect of carbohydrate source on microbial nitrogen recycling in growing rabbits

Effect of carbohydrate source on microbial nitrogen recycling in growing rabbits

Transfer of blood urea nitrogen to cecal microbial nitrogen is increased by mannitol feeding in growing rabbits fed timothy hay diet

Both Dietary Fatty Acids and Those Present in the Cecotrophs Contribute to the Distinctive Chemical Characteristics of New Zealand Rabbit Milk Fat

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