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.
Sakaguchi
E
E
Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Agriculture, Okayama University, Japan.
Nippashi
K
K
Endoh
G
G
D000818:Animals; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004063:Digestion; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit; D006168:Guinea Pigs / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D013045:Species Specificity