The Role of the Caecum in Nutrient Utilization by the Pig

Effects of Caecectomy on the Digestibility of Food and Rate of Passage of Digesta in the Rat

“…Keys et al (1969) showed that pigs and rats digested cellulose and hemicellulose in alfalfa to an appreciable extent but pigs digested these constituents in brome and orchard grasses better than rats. Lloyd et al (1958) caecectomized pigs and fed combinations of high and low protein and fibre in four diets. Crude fibre digestibility was hardly affected when the diets were high (17 %) in protein, but it was substantially decreased when the diets were low (8•7%) in protein.…”

The digestion of complex carbohydrates in the large intestine of the growing pig: effects on nitrogen metabolism

“…Our results support the previous observations of Lloyd et al (1958) that cecectomy does not decrease digestive capacity of the pig to any great extent. Dry matter digestibility increased during the experiment in all pigs.…”

The digestion of complex carbohydrates in the large intestine of the growing pig: effects on nitrogen metabolism

“…The relative importance of cecum and colon in digestive processes of swine has not been established. Lloyd ^ ^., (1958) reported nonsignificant differences between intact and cecectomized pigs, but the few animals in volved and the low cellulose content of the diets did not allow definite conclusions. Also, data available in rats (Yang et a]^., 1969) may not be applicable to the pig because of large species differences in both anatomical structure (Simic and Ilic, 1976) and in rate of passage of digesta (Hecker and Grovum, 1975).…”