Organic matter and macromineral digestibility in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) as compared to other hindgut fermenters

Abstract

It is generally assumed that animal species differ in physiological characteristics of their digestive tract. Because investigating digestive processes is often labour-intensive, requiring lengthy adaptation and collection periods, comparisons are often made on the basis of data collated from different studies. We added a new data set on dietary crude fibre (CF) and macromineral (Na, K, Ca, P, Mg) composition and apparent digestibility (aD) of organic matter (OM) and macrominerals in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus; a total of 180 measurements with 12 individuals and 10 different diets) to a literature data collection for rodents and domestic horses (Equus caballus). Significant negative relationships between dietary CF and aD OM were obtained, but the significant difference in digestive efficiency between rabbits and guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) reported from studies where both species had been investigated under identical conditions were not detectable in the larger data collection. However, the 95% confidence interval of the negative slope of the CF-aD OM relationship did not overlap between domestic horses on the one hand, and rabbits and guinea pigs on the other hand, indicating a less depressing effect of CF in horses. Akaike's information criterion indicated that aD of a macromineral did not only depend on its concentration in the diet, but also on the individual and various other diet characteristics and the presence of other macrominerals, indicating complex interactions. The data indicate similar mechanisms in the absorption of macrominerals amongst rabbits, rodents and horses, with the exception of Na and K in guinea pigs and Ca in chinchillas (Chinchilla laniger) that should be further corroborated. In particular, the occurrence of high aD Ca in hindgut fermenters, regardless of whether they employ a digestive strategy of coprophagy or whether they have fossorial habits, suggests that this peculiarity might represent an adaptation to hindgut fermentation in general.

Evaluation of haematological, serum biochemical and histopathological parameters of growing rabbits fed Amaranthus dubius

“…Rabbits have diverse advantages for meat production with respect to other livestock species, above all their short generation interval, high prolificacy, good mothering ability, easy management strategy, small space requirements for breeding and the possibility of using fodders, balanced feeds and by-products in their feeding (Lebas, Coudert, De Rochambeau, & Thebault, 1997) due to their ability to digest fibre (Hagen, Tschudin, Liesegang, Hat, & Clauss, 2015). However, to achieve adequate returns establishing ideal housing and management conditions is necessary (Matics et al, 2013), as is providing balanced feeds in accordance with the rabbit's nutritional requirements (De Blas & Mateos, 2010).…”

A comparative meta‐analysis on the relationship of faecal calcium and phosphorus excretion in mammals

“…In hindgut fermenting herbivores, efficient Ca absorption in the small intestine is presumed to render P available for microbial fermentation in the large intestine (Clauss, Lang-Deuerling, Kienzle, Medici, & Hummel, 2009;Clauss et al, 2007;Hagen, Tschudin, Liesegang, Hatt, & Clauss, 2015). Hindgut fermenters regulate Ca homeostasis by excreting Ca via urine; faecal Ca concentrations are therefore lower, and apparent digestibility coefficients for Ca are typically high.…”

Drug-Response Differences Based on Pharmacodynamic in Species and Breeds for the Choices of Drug and Dosage Regimen:Review

“…4 At ve tavşana arka barsak fermentatörler denir. 54 Atlarda fluniksin gibi selüloza bağlanan ilaçlar sekumda serbest kalır. Bu durum nonsteroid antiinflamatuar ilaç (NSAİİ)'ların atlarda yan etkisini açıklamaya katkı sağlamaktadır.…”