Coprophagy in Rabbits

Coprophagy is consumption of feces by animals. Many species practice coprophagy as a matter of course. Other species do not normally consume feces, but can do it under unusual conditions. In coprophagy, many kinds of feces eating are included. The animals eating feces of other species are called heterospecifics. While eating feces of animals of same species is known as alloprophagy, animals eating species of its own is known as autocoprophagy. The feces are eaten after deposition or directly from the anus. Here you will find information on coprophagy in rabbits.

Rabbits do not have a complex ruminant digestive system. They extract excess amount of nutrition from grass by giving their food a second pass through the gut. Soft fecal pellets or partially digested food are excreted and consumed immediately; this is known as coprophagy in rabbits. Consuming this matter is important for adequate nutritional intake of vitamin B12.

Rabbits are herbivores animals, meaning they eat only vegetarian food. They do well on high fiber diets. Rabbits possess a cecum, which is involved in digestion. During night, the cecal contents move rapidly through the large bowel. These contents are excreted from the anus. These cecotrophes are known as soft feces. These soft feces are then consumed by the rabbit, usually directly from the anus. Coprophagy in rabbits begins from second to third week of age.

The normal healthy rabbit forms two kinds of faecal pellets. One type is that normally seen on the floor of the hutch, the other type is never normally seen for it is taken direct from the anus by the rabbit and swallowed whole. The residue of fresh food material passes into thecae cum after digestion and absorption in the small intestine after bacterial digestion in the aecium, the food passes through the colon, is swallowed by the rabbit and passes scooper pellets into the stomach. This material, after being re-digested, passes through the large intestine and is excreted. At least half and probably more, of the material excreted by the rabbit is re-ingested as coronarius pellets. Several reasons for the peculiar physiological habit have been advanced. On a dry matter basis, the chordophones contain 3 times as much crude protein as do the normal pellets, but only a third of the fiber. In addition the coronarius pellets contain considerable amounts of Complex vitamins. There is little doubt therefore that part at least of the explanation of this process lies in the increased efficiency of digestion and the production of some at least of the animal's vitamin requirements. It should again perhaps be stressed that the habit is perfectly normal, and indeed can be observed at many periods of the day.

Normal fecal pellets are hard, round and are excreted during the day. The cecotrophes are produced in the early morning hours. These cecotrophes are small and soft. They are sweet smelling and are of pea size. They contain high level of B vitamins and vitamins K. They possess twice the protein content and half the fiber of standard feces. The indigested food of cecotrophes after been eaten again by the rabbits helps to absorb previously undigested nutrients. It softens a rabbit’s gut with the essential nutrients and vitamins which helps in digestion of food.

Coprophagy is a normal and necessary behavior of a healthy rabbit. It helps them to provide more essential nutrients and make them fit and healthy. The habit of coprophagy was first reported by Morot in 1882.

An experiment was conducted for prevention of coprophagy in rabbit. A collar was attached to the rabbit’s neck and was left for a few days in order to avoid coprophagy. Weight gain and food intake of rabbit was checked. It was observed that there was a decline in weight of the rabbit. However, the food intake had increased to a certain extent. This proved that the coprophagy is essential in rabbits. Coprophagy in rabbits is a considered as a normal behavior.