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Problems in estimating the extent of coprophagy in the rat

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Gladys Fajardo  and
H. Hörnicke
Gladys Fajardo
Affiliation:
Universität Hohenheim, Institut für Zoophysiologie, D 7000 Stuttgart 70, West Germany
H. Hörnicke
Affiliation:
Universität Hohenheim, Institut für Zoophysiologie, D 7000 Stuttgart 70, West Germany
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Abstract

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The quantity of re-ingested faeces was calculated by comparing faecal dry matter of unrestricted rats and coprophagy-restricted rats after correcting for differences in food intake. Due to high day-to-day variations of produced and re-ingested faeces it was not possible to calculate precisely the extent of coprophagy of an individual rat at a particular day with this difference method. Reliable quantitative estimates require at least two rats and a collection period of 7 d. When fed on a nutritionally complete diet, rats re-ingested 0-11 % of their faeces. When fed on low-protein diets (66 g egg albumin/kg) or diets diluted with 200 g cellulose/kg, coprophagy was not significantly increased. A high re-ingestion rate (6–25 %) was observed with thiamin and pantothenic acid deficiencies. After re-ingestion of faeces had been prevented for 1 week, the amount of faeces re-ingested during the subsequent week without tail-cups was increased twofold. It is concluded that rats are able to regulate the amount of faeces eaten precisely according to their requirements.

Keywords

CoprophagyRat
Type
Gastrointestinal Physiology, Digestion and Metabolism: Non-Ruminants
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 62 , Issue 3 , November 1989 , pp. 551 - 561
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1989

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