FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Cornell Vet / Coprophagy in animals: a review.
The Cornell veterinarian1991; 81(4); 357-364;

Coprophagy in animals: a review.

Abstract: Coprophagy is performed by rodents and lagomorphs and to a lesser degree by piglets, foals, dogs and nonhuman primates. Due to the construction of the digestive system of rodents and rabbits, coprophagy is necessary to supply many essential nutrients. Bacterial synthesis of nutrients occurs in the lower gastrointestinal tract in these animals where little absorption is realized. The eating of their feces provides a method for obtaining these nutrients.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 1991-10-01 PubMed ID: 1954740
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article
  • Review

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article provides an insightful discussion on coprophagy, which refers to the act of animals eating feces, predominantly observed in rodents, lagomorphs such as rabbits, and to a lesser extent in piglets, foals, dogs, and nonhuman primates. The process is necessary for these animals as it aids in their nutrient absorption, particularly for essential nutrients synthesized by bacteria in their lower gastrointestinal tract, which otherwise aren’t absorbed into their system.

Coprophagy in Different Animal Species

  • The study presents an overview of the degrees to which different animals are engaged in coprophagy. Rodents and lagomorphs showcase this behavior more than other animals like piglets, foals, dogs, and nonhuman primates.
  • While the practice may seem unsavory to humans, it serves a crucial dietary purpose for these creatures, assisting the process of nutrient acquisition.

Fecal Consumption and Nutrient Absorption

  • The research goes on to elucidate the relevance of coprophagy to nutrient absorption. Specifically, the lower gastrointestinal tracts of rodents and rabbits are responsible for bacterial synthesis of essential nutrients. However, the normal process of digestion in these animals doesn’t completely facilitate the absorption of these nutrients.
  • Therefore, the consumption of their own feces becomes a necessary behavioral adaptation for these animals to meet their nutritional needs. The fecal matter contains significant levels of the nutrients produced in the lower intestinal tracts, hence ingesting it allows these vital components to be recycled into the system.

The Necessity of Coprophagy

  • The study concludes by underscoring the necessity of coprophagy among rodents and rabbits due to their unique digestive system configuration. In an environment with limited resources or food scarcity, this feeding behavior becomes especially beneficial.
  • It is important to note that while coprophagy is less common in other animals like piglets, foals, dogs, and nonhuman primates, it still occurs and serves similarly critical nutritional roles. The scale and relevance vary depending on factors like species, diet, and environmental conditions.

Cite This Article

APA
Soave O, Brand CD. (1991). Coprophagy in animals: a review. Cornell Vet, 81(4), 357-364.

Publication

The Cornell veterinarian
ISSN: 0010-8901
NlmUniqueID: 0074245
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 81
Issue: 4
Pages: 357-364

Researcher Affiliations

Soave, O
  • National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, AR 72079.
Brand, C D

    MeSH Terms

    • Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
    • Animals
    • Coprophagia
    • Horses / physiology
    • Lagomorpha / physiology
    • Primates / physiology
    • Rodentia / physiology
    • Swine / physiology

    Citations

    This article has been cited 58 times.
    1. Wang Z, He H, Chen M, Ni M, Yuan D, Cai H, Chen Z, Li M, Xu H. Impact of coprophagy prevention on the growth performance, serum biochemistry, and intestinal microbiome of rabbits. BMC Microbiol 2023 May 10;23(1):125.
      doi: 10.1186/s12866-023-02869-ypubmed: 37165350google scholar: lookup
    2. Carson MD, Warner AJ, Geiser VL, Hathaway-Schrader JD, Alekseyenko AV, Marshall J, Westwater C, Novince CM. Prolonged Antibiotic Exposure during Adolescence Dysregulates Liver Metabolism and Promotes Adiposity in Mice. Am J Pathol 2023 Jun;193(6):796-812.
      doi: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2023.02.014pubmed: 36906264google scholar: lookup
    3. Kocabas R. Effect of Vitamin D on YKL-40: Rat Hypercholesterolemia Model. Korean Circ J 2023 Feb;53(2):92-102.
      doi: 10.4070/kcj.2022.0282pubmed: 36792559google scholar: lookup
    4. Spitzer R, Åström C, Felton A, Eriksson M, Meisingset EL, Solberg EJ, Rolandsen CM. Coprophagy in moose: A first observation. Ecol Evol 2023 Jan;13(1):e9757.
      doi: 10.1002/ece3.9757pubmed: 36699571google scholar: lookup
    5. Vendramini THA, Gomes VZ, Anastacio GL, Henríquez LBF, Ochamotto VA, Rentas MF, Zafalon RVA, Perini MP, Marchi PH, Amaral AR, Brunetto MA. Evaluation of the Influence of Coprophagic Behavior on the Digestibility of Dietary Nutrients and Fecal Fermentation Products in Adult Dogs. Vet Sci 2022 Dec 9;9(12).
      doi: 10.3390/vetsci9120686pubmed: 36548846google scholar: lookup
    6. Li Z, He H, Ni M, Wang Z, Guo C, Niu Y, Xing S, Song M, Wang Y, Jiang Y, Yu L, Li M, Xu H. Microbiome-Metabolome Analysis of the Immune Microenvironment of the Cecal Contents, Soft Feces, and Hard Feces of Hyplus Rabbits. Oxid Med Cell Longev 2022;2022:5725442.
      doi: 10.1155/2022/5725442pubmed: 36466090google scholar: lookup
    7. Fleming PA, Stobo-Wilson AM, Crawford HM, Dawson SJ, Dickman CR, Doherty TS, Fleming PJS, Newsome TM, Palmer R, Thompson JA, Woinarski JCZ. Distinctive diets of eutherian predators in Australia. R Soc Open Sci 2022 Oct;9(10):220792.
      doi: 10.1098/rsos.220792pubmed: 36312571google scholar: lookup
    8. Zhang XY, Wang DH. Gut Microbial Community and Host Thermoregulation in Small Mammals. Front Physiol 2022;13:888324.
      doi: 10.3389/fphys.2022.888324pubmed: 35480035google scholar: lookup
    9. Liu R, Amato K, Hou R, Gomez A, Dunn DW, Zhang J, Garber PA, Chapman CA, Righini N, He G, Fang G, Li Y, Li B, Guo S. Specialized digestive adaptations within the hindgut of a colobine monkey. Innovation (Camb) 2022 Mar 29;3(2):100207.
      doi: 10.1016/j.xinn.2022.100207pubmed: 35243466google scholar: lookup
    10. Rosenberg E, Zilber-Rosenberg I. Reconstitution and Transmission of Gut Microbiomes and Their Genes between Generations. Microorganisms 2021 Dec 30;10(1).
      doi: 10.3390/microorganisms10010070pubmed: 35056519google scholar: lookup
    11. Craft J, Eddington H, Christman ND, Pryor W, Chaston JM, Erickson DL, Wilson E. Increased Microbial Diversity and Decreased Prevalence of Common Pathogens in the Gut Microbiomes of Wild Turkeys Compared to Domestic Turkeys. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022 Mar 8;88(5):e0142321.
      doi: 10.1128/AEM.01423-21pubmed: 35044852google scholar: lookup
    12. Gong R, Ye X, Wang S, Ren Z. Isolation, identification, and biological characteristics of Clostridium sartagoforme from rabbit. PLoS One 2021;16(11):e0259715.
      doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259715pubmed: 34780527google scholar: lookup
    13. Hu X, Wang F, Yang S, Yuan X, Yang T, Zhou Y, Li Y. Rabbit microbiota across the whole body revealed by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. BMC Microbiol 2021 Nov 10;21(1):312.
      doi: 10.1186/s12866-021-02377-xpubmed: 34758744google scholar: lookup
    14. Schlosser-Brandenburg J, Ebner F, Klopfleisch R, Kühl AA, Zentek J, Pieper R, Hartmann S. Influence of Nutrition and Maternal Bonding on Postnatal Lung Development in the Newborn Pig. Front Immunol 2021;12:734153.
      doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.734153pubmed: 34484245google scholar: lookup
    15. Marié IJ, Brambilla L, Azzouz D, Chen Z, Baracho GV, Arnett A, Li HS, Liu W, Cimmino L, Chattopadhyay P, Silverman G, Watowich SS, Khor B, Levy DE. Tonic interferon restricts pathogenic IL-17-driven inflammatory disease via balancing the microbiome. Elife 2021 Aug 11;10.
      doi: 10.7554/eLife.68371pubmed: 34378531google scholar: lookup
    16. Nandula SR, Huxford I, Wheeler TT, Aparicio C, Gorr SU. The parotid secretory protein BPIFA2 is a salivary surfactant that affects lipopolysaccharide action. Exp Physiol 2020 Aug;105(8):1280-1292.
      doi: 10.1113/EP088567pubmed: 32390232google scholar: lookup
    17. Sarabian C, Ngoubangoye B, MacIntosh AJJ. Divergent strategies in faeces avoidance between two cercopithecoid primates. R Soc Open Sci 2020 Mar;7(3):191861.
      doi: 10.1098/rsos.191861pubmed: 32269806google scholar: lookup
    18. Williams DW, Vuong HE, Kim S, Lenon A, Ho K, Hsiao EY, Sung EC, Kim RH. Indigenous Microbiota Protects against Inflammation-Induced Osteonecrosis. J Dent Res 2020 Jun;99(6):676-684.
      doi: 10.1177/0022034520908594pubmed: 32109361google scholar: lookup
    19. Bogatyrev SR, Rolando JC, Ismagilov RF. Self-reinoculation with fecal flora changes microbiota density and composition leading to an altered bile-acid profile in the mouse small intestine. Microbiome 2020 Feb 12;8(1):19.
      doi: 10.1186/s40168-020-0785-4pubmed: 32051033google scholar: lookup
    20. David I, Canario L, Combes S, Demars J. Intergenerational Transmission of Characters Through Genetics, Epigenetics, Microbiota, and Learning in Livestock. Front Genet 2019;10:1058.
      doi: 10.3389/fgene.2019.01058pubmed: 31737041google scholar: lookup
    21. Kersemans V, Wallington S, Allen PD, Gilchrist S, Kinchesh P, Browning R, Vallis KA, Schilling K, Holdship P, Stork LA, Smart S. Manganese-free chow, a refined non-invasive solution to reduce gastrointestinal signal for T(1)-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the mouse abdomen. Lab Anim 2020 Aug;54(4):353-364.
      doi: 10.1177/0023677219869363pubmed: 31526094google scholar: lookup
    22. Kobayashi A, Tsuchida S, Ueda A, Yamada T, Murata K, Nakamura H, Ushida K. Role of coprophagy in the cecal microbiome development of an herbivorous bird Japanese rock ptarmigan. J Vet Med Sci 2019 Oct 10;81(9):1389-1399.
      doi: 10.1292/jvms.19-0014pubmed: 31406033google scholar: lookup
    23. Achard CS, Dupouy V, Siviglia S, Arpaillange N, Cauquil L, Bousquet-Mélou A, Zemb O. Variability of the Ability of Complex Microbial Communities to Exclude Microbes Carrying Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Rabbits. Front Microbiol 2019;10:1503.
      doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01503pubmed: 31333614google scholar: lookup
    24. Aviles-Rosa EO, Rakhshandeh A, McGlone JJ. Preliminary Study: Depriving Piglets of Maternal Feces for the First Seven Days Post-Partum Changes Piglet Physiology and Performance before and after Weaning. Animals (Basel) 2019 May 23;9(5).
      doi: 10.3390/ani9050268pubmed: 31126021google scholar: lookup
    25. Siswandi R, Yoshida A, Satoh H, Nonaka N. X-ray evaluation of intestinal dysmotility induced by Eimeria pragensis infection in C57BL/6 mice. J Vet Med Sci 2019 Jul 19;81(7):1021-1028.
      doi: 10.1292/jvms.19-0137pubmed: 31118353google scholar: lookup
    26. Wohlgemuth N, Honce R, Schultz-Cherry S. Astrovirus evolution and emergence. Infect Genet Evol 2019 Apr;69:30-37.
      doi: 10.1016/j.meegid.2019.01.009pubmed: 30639546google scholar: lookup
    27. Davidson GL, Cooke AC, Johnson CN, Quinn JL. The gut microbiome as a driver of individual variation in cognition and functional behaviour. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018 Sep 26;373(1756).
      doi: 10.1098/rstb.2017.0286pubmed: 30104431google scholar: lookup
    28. Parker KD, Albeke SE, Gigley JP, Goldstein AM, Ward NL. Microbiome Composition in Both Wild-Type and Disease Model Mice Is Heavily Influenced by Mouse Facility. Front Microbiol 2018;9:1598.
      doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01598pubmed: 30079054google scholar: lookup
    29. Kleinwort A, Döring P, Hackbarth C, Patrzyk M, Heidecke CD, Schulze T. Murine Distal Colostomy, A Novel Model of Diversion Colitis in C57BL/6 Mice. J Vis Exp 2018 Jul 12;(137).
      doi: 10.3791/57616pubmed: 30059029google scholar: lookup
    30. Matsubayashi M, Tsuchida S, Ushida K, Murata K. Surveillance of Eimeria species in wild Japanese rock ptarmigans, Lagopus muta japonica, and insight into parasitic seasonal life cycle at timberline regions of the Japanese Alps. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2018 Aug;7(2):134-140.
      doi: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2018.03.004pubmed: 29988830google scholar: lookup
    31. Harrison CA, Laubitz D, Ohland CL, Midura-Kiela MT, Patil K, Besselsen DG, Jamwal DR, Jobin C, Ghishan FK, Kiela PR. Microbial dysbiosis associated with impaired intestinal Na(+)/H(+) exchange accelerates and exacerbates colitis in ex-germ free mice. Mucosal Immunol 2018 Sep;11(5):1329-1341.
      doi: 10.1038/s41385-018-0035-2pubmed: 29875400google scholar: lookup
    32. Fu X, Zeng B, Wang P, Wang L, Wen B, Li Y, Liu H, Bai S, Jia G. Microbiome of Total Versus Live Bacteria in the Gut of Rex Rabbits. Front Microbiol 2018;9:733.
      doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00733pubmed: 29692775google scholar: lookup
    33. De Riva A, Wållberg M, Ronchi F, Coulson R, Sage A, Thorne L, Goodfellow I, McCoy KD, Azuma M, Cooke A, Busch R. Regulation of type 1 diabetes development and B-cell activation in nonobese diabetic mice by early life exposure to a diabetogenic environment. PLoS One 2017;12(8):e0181964.
      doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181964pubmed: 28771521google scholar: lookup
    34. Danchin A, Braham S. Coenzyme B12 synthesis as a baseline to study metabolite contribution of animal microbiota. Microb Biotechnol 2017 Jul;10(4):688-701.
      doi: 10.1111/1751-7915.12722pubmed: 28612402google scholar: lookup
    35. Flemer B, Gaci N, Borrel G, Sanderson IR, Chaudhary PP, Tottey W, O'Toole PW, Brugère JF. Fecal microbiota variation across the lifespan of the healthy laboratory rat. Gut Microbes 2017 Sep 3;8(5):428-439.
      doi: 10.1080/19490976.2017.1334033pubmed: 28586297google scholar: lookup
    36. Chanyi RM, Craven L, Harvey B, Reid G, Silverman MJ, Burton JP. Faecal microbiota transplantation: Where did it start? What have studies taught us? Where is it going?. SAGE Open Med 2017;5:2050312117708712.
      doi: 10.1177/2050312117708712pubmed: 28540051google scholar: lookup
    37. Ezenwa VO, Archie EA, Craft ME, Hawley DM, Martin LB, Moore J, White L. Host behaviour-parasite feedback: an essential link between animal behaviour and disease ecology. Proc Biol Sci 2016 Apr 13;283(1828).
      doi: 10.1098/rspb.2015.3078pubmed: 27053751google scholar: lookup
    38. Josephs KA, Whitwell JL, Parisi JE, Lapid MI. Coprophagia in neurologic disorders. J Neurol 2016 May;263(5):1008-1014.
      doi: 10.1007/s00415-016-8096-1pubmed: 27017341google scholar: lookup
    39. Lewis JS, Bailey LL, VandeWoude S, Crooks KR. Interspecific interactions between wild felids vary across scales and levels of urbanization. Ecol Evol 2015 Dec;5(24):5946-61.
      doi: 10.1002/ece3.1812pubmed: 26811767google scholar: lookup
    40. Lightowlers MW, Garcia HH, Gauci CG, Donadeu M, Abela-Ridder B. Monitoring the outcomes of interventions against Taenia solium: options and suggestions. Parasite Immunol 2016 Mar;38(3):158-69.
      doi: 10.1111/pim.12291pubmed: 26538513google scholar: lookup
    41. Nguyen TL, Vieira-Silva S, Liston A, Raes J. How informative is the mouse for human gut microbiota research?. Dis Model Mech 2015 Jan;8(1):1-16.
      doi: 10.1242/dmm.017400pubmed: 25561744google scholar: lookup
    42. Reid G, Nduti N, Sybesma W, Kort R, Kollmann TR, Adam R, Boga H, Brown EM, Einerhand A, El-Nezami H, Gloor GB, Kavere II, Lindahl J, Manges A, Mamo W, Martin R, McMillan A, Obiero J, Ochieng' PA, Onyango A, Rulisa S, Salminen E, Salminen S, Sije A, Swann JR, van Treuren W, Waweru D, Kemp SJ. Harnessing microbiome and probiotic research in sub-Saharan Africa: recommendations from an African workshop. Microbiome 2014;2:12.
      doi: 10.1186/2049-2618-2-12pubmed: 24739094google scholar: lookup
    43. Koçer ZA, Obenauer J, Zaraket H, Zhang J, Rehg JE, Russell CJ, Webster RG. Fecal influenza in mammals: selection of novel variants. J Virol 2013 Nov;87(21):11476-86.
      doi: 10.1128/JVI.01544-13pubmed: 23966381google scholar: lookup
    44. Ma BW, Bokulich NA, Castillo PA, Kananurak A, Underwood MA, Mills DA, Bevins CL. Routine habitat change: a source of unrecognized transient alteration of intestinal microbiota in laboratory mice. PLoS One 2012;7(10):e47416.
      doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0047416pubmed: 23082164google scholar: lookup
    45. Sakamaki T. Coprophagy in wild bonobos (Pan paniscus) at Wamba in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: a possibly adaptive strategy?. Primates 2010 Jan;51(1):87-90.
      doi: 10.1007/s10329-009-0167-9pubmed: 19882210google scholar: lookup
    46. Qin X. High incidence of inflammatory bowel disease with improved hygiene and failure to get human-like IBD in laboratory animals. World J Gastroenterol 2007 Jun 21;13(23):3271.
      doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i23.3271pubmed: 17589913google scholar: lookup
    47. Kamlage B, Hartmann L, Gruhl B, Blaut M. Intestinal microorganisms do not supply associated gnotobiotic rats with conjugated linoleic acid. J Nutr 1999 Dec;129(12):2212-7.
      doi: 10.1093/jn/129.12.2212pubmed: 10573552google scholar: lookup
    48. Li R, Li F, Guo H, Li S, Wang J, Wang C. Coprophagy prevention interfered with intestinal barrier, lipid metabolism, and immune performance in rabbits via microbe-gut-liver axis. Anim Microbiome 2025 Nov 10;7(1):117.
      doi: 10.1186/s42523-025-00483-zpubmed: 41214843google scholar: lookup
    49. Naqib A, Ahmad I, McDonald Z, Kalinin S, Rocha J, Tandon A, Rayala R, Feferman L, Chlipala GE, Chen H, Lindeblad M, Rubinstein I, Green S, van Breemen R, Feinstein DL. Alterations in the cecal microbiome of New Zealand White rabbits due to the long-acting anticoagulant rodenticide brodifacoum. Toxicol Commun 2025;9(1).
      doi: 10.1080/24734306.2025.2500111pubmed: 40452652google scholar: lookup
    50. Gul S, Shi Y, Hu J, Song S. The Influence of Microbiota on Wild Birds' Parental Coprophagy Behavior: Current Advances and Future Research Directions. Microorganisms 2024 Nov 30;12(12).
      doi: 10.3390/microorganisms12122468pubmed: 39770671google scholar: lookup
    51. Li Z, Li R, Li J, Wang Z, He H, Yan D, Yu L, Li H, Li M, Xu H. Coprophagy Prevention Affects the Reproductive Performance in New Zealand White Rabbits Is Mediated through Nox4-ROS-NFκB Pathway. Oxid Med Cell Longev 2022;2022:8999899.
      doi: 10.1155/2022/8999899pubmed: 39282150google scholar: lookup
    52. Obregon-Gutierrez P, Bonillo-Lopez L, Correa-Fiz F, Sibila M, Segalés J, Kochanowski K, Aragon V. Gut-associated microbes are present and active in the pig nasal cavity. Sci Rep 2024 Apr 11;14(1):8470.
      doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-58681-9pubmed: 38605046google scholar: lookup
    53. Kuczera K, Orłowska A, Smreczak M, Frant M, Trębas P, Rola J. Prevalence of Astroviruses in Different Animal Species in Poland. Viruses 2024 Jan 4;16(1).
      doi: 10.3390/v16010080pubmed: 38257780google scholar: lookup
    54. Li Z, Chen M, Zhang R, Wang Z, He H, Wan Z, Li H, Cai H, Chen Z, Li M, Xu H. Clostridium butyricum Ameliorates the Effect of Coprophagy Prevention on Hepatic Lipid Synthesis in Rabbits via the Gut-Liver Axis. Int J Mol Sci 2023 Dec 16;24(24).
      doi: 10.3390/ijms242417554pubmed: 38139382google scholar: lookup
    55. Raymond S, St Clair CC. Urban Magpies Frequently Feed on Coyote Scats and May Spread an Emerging Zoonotic Tapeworm. Ecohealth 2023 Dec;20(4):441-452.
      doi: 10.1007/s10393-023-01664-5pubmed: 38109036google scholar: lookup
    56. Berger PI, Hermanns S, Kerner K, Schmelz F, Schüler V, Ewers C, Bauerfeind R, Doherr MG. Cross-sectional study: prevalence of oedema disease Escherichia coli (EDEC) in weaned piglets in Germany at pen and farm levels. Porcine Health Manag 2023 Oct 26;9(1):49.
      doi: 10.1186/s40813-023-00343-9pubmed: 37885038google scholar: lookup
    57. Videvall E, Bensch HM, Engelbrecht A, Cloete S, Cornwallis CK. Coprophagy rapidly matures juvenile gut microbiota in a precocial bird. Evol Lett 2023 Aug;7(4):240-251.
      doi: 10.1093/evlett/qrad021pubmed: 37475750google scholar: lookup
    58. Maeda Y, Teraoka H, Okada A, Yamamoto M, Natsuyama S, Hieda Y, Nagatsuka Y, Sato Y, Goromaru T, Murakami T. Development and Evaluation of EDTA-Treated Rabbits for Bioavailability Study of Chelating Drugs Using Levofloxacin, Ciprofloxacin, Hemiacetal Ester Prodrugs, and Tetracycline. Pharmaceutics 2023 May 24;15(6).
      doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15061589pubmed: 37376038google scholar: lookup
    Subscribe to our newsletter
    Join 99,357 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.