Digesta retention and fibre digestion in maras (Dolichotis patagonum) and guinea-pigs.
1. Digestibilities of feed and turnover time (1/k), transit time (TT) and mean retention time (MRT: 1/k+TT) of fluid and particle markers were measured in maras (Dolichotis patagonum) and guinea-pigs (Cavia procellus) fed a diet containing 50% alfalfa. 2. The digestibility of fibre was similar in both animals, however, the digestibilities of crude protein (nitrogen x 6.25) and crude ash were lower in the mara than in the guinea-pig. 3. 1/k of the digesta markers were similar in both animals, suggesting that the two animals possess similar dilution and retention time of digesta in their caecum and proximal colon.
Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Agriculture, Okayama University, Japan.
E
E
Sakaguchi
K
K
Nippashi
G
G
Endoh
D000818:Animals; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004063:Digestion; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit; D006168:Guinea Pigs / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D013045:Species Specificity