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The Effect of Coprophagy on the Excretion of B Vitamins by the Rabbit¹

Bureau of Animal Industry, U. S. Department of Agriculture

Rabbits that are collared to prevent coprophagy or consumption of the soft feces excrete approximately 29% more feces than are recovered when coprophagy is not prevented. The difference is essentially accounted for by the soft feces excreted. The soft feces contain between three and 4 times more niacin and riboflavin per gram than do the hard feces. Pantothenic acid is about 6 times greater in the soft feces and vitamin B₁₂ between two and three times the level in the hard feces. On the basis of the difference in the fecal excretion of the vitamins or their recovery in the feces of the rabbits while collared as compared with the amounts recovered while the animals were not collared, it can be calculated that coprophagy provides the rabbit with about 83% more niacin, 100% more riboflavin, 165% more pantothenic acid and 42% more vitamin B₁₂ than would be available if the soft feces were not consumed.

The amount of vitamin B₁₂ recovered in the feces of rabbits fed a diet low in this vitamin was 221-fold greater than the intake. Values are given for the vitamin B₁₂ content of the liver, kidney and spleen of the rabbit.

Manuscript received 24 November 1952.