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.
Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition © 2015 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
Publication Date: 2015-04-09 PubMed ID: 25857396DOI: 10.1111/jpn.12323Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article focuses on the digestibility of organic matter and macrominerals in rabbits and compares these findings with data from rodents and horses. The study also investigates the impact of dietary crude fiber on the apparent digestibility of these substances and notes potential complexities around the absorption of different minerals.
Research Aims and Methodology
- The researchers aimed at exploring the physiological differences in the digestive processes of various animal species, particularly focussing on domestic rabbits. They studied the total of 180 measurements with 12 rabbits and 10 different diets.
- The researchers added these findings to existing data on the dietary crude fibre (CF) and macromineral composition in domestic horses and rodents. Macrominerals are minerals needed in higher amounts in the diet and include sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), phosphorous (P), and magnesium (Mg).
- They evaluated the apparent digestibility (aD) of organic matter (OM) and the macrominerals. Apparent digestibility is a measure of the percentage of a compound that is digested and absorbed from a diet. In this case, they were examining how much of the organic matter and macrominerals were being used by the rabbits compared to the horses and rodents.
Findings
- The research found significant negative relationships between the dietary crude fibre and aD of organic matter. This suggests that as the level of CF in the diet increases, the digestibility of organic matter decreases.
- The study, however, did not detect the significant difference initially reported between rabbits and guinea pigs under identical conditions. It hints at the need for a more controlled or diverse dataset to firmly establish this difference.
- The researchers discovered a contrasting effect of crude fiber, a less depressive one, in horses when compared to rabbits and guinea pigs.
- The study also noted that the digestibility of a specific macromineral did not solely depend on its concentration in the animal’s diet but was influenced by several factors. These include the characteristics like the individual metabolic capabilities of the animal and the presence of certain other macrominerals, hinting at complex interactions between dietary components.
Implications and Future Research
- The research suggests the existence of similar absorption mechanisms for macrominerals amongst rabbits, rodents, and horses, with certain exceptions. This is particularly true for sodium, potassium in guinea pigs, and calcium in chinchillas.
- The study indicates a need for further investigation into high apparent digestibility of calcium in hindgut fermenters. This occurrence, whether in animals practicing coprophagy or having fossorial habits, suggests that this might represent an adaptive trait linked to hindgut fermentation.
Cite This Article
APA
Hagen KB, Tschudin A, Liesegang A, Hatt JM, Clauss M.
(2015).
Organic matter and macromineral digestibility in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) as compared to other hindgut fermenters.
J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl), 99(6), 1197-1209.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jpn.12323 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Feed / analysis
- Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
- Animals
- Diet / veterinary
- Dietary Fiber / metabolism
- Digestion / physiology
- Eating
- Fermentation
- Horses
- Minerals / metabolism
- Rabbits / physiology
- Rodentia
- Species Specificity
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Böswald LF, Wenderlein J, Siegert W, Straubinger RK, Kienzle E. True mineral digestibility in C57Bl/6J mice. PLoS One 2023;18(8):e0290145.
- Duque-Correa MJ, Codron D, Meloro C, McGrosky A, Schiffmann C, Edwards MS, Clauss M. Mammalian intestinal allometry, phylogeny, trophic level and climate. Proc Biol Sci 2021 Feb 10;288(1944):20202888.
- Matsuda I, Bernard H, Tuuga A, Nathan SKSS, Sha JCM, Osman I, Sipangkui R, Seino S, Asano S, Wong A, Kreuzer M, Ramirez Saldivar DA, Clauss M. Fecal Nutrients Suggest Diets of Higher Fiber Levels in Free-Ranging than in Captive Proboscis Monkeys (Nasalis larvatus). Front Vet Sci 2017;4:246.
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