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Surgical Removal of the Cecum and Its Effect on Digestion and Growth in Rabbits¹

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Department of Animal Husbandry and Nutrition, Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Auburn

1. Surgical removal of the cecum of rabbits has been successfully accomplished, and 5 animals lived for periods up to 8 months. The growth rate of cecectomized rabbits averaged 22 gm per day when fed a synthetic-type diet with 10% fiber and 20% fat. At post mortem there was enlargement of the colon and adrenal glands. Normal growth rate of rabbits was between 25 and 30 gm per day over a 50-day period on this diet.

2. Rabbits without ceca continued to excrete two types of feces, differentiated on the basis of color, bile pigments, and shape. However, the so-called "soft" feces of these animals were not in grape-like clusters; they did not have the tough gelatinous coating nor the high protein, low fiber contents typical of normal soft feces. Coprophagy was not practiced.

3. The digestibility of fiber (cellulose) was equal in both normal and in cecectomized rabbits. Sodium and potassium utilization were greatly lowered in cecectomized rabbits; protein and fat digestibility were somewhat lower, while ash and calcium were unchanged. It is concluded that, functionally, the digestive apparatus of rabbits is similar to other monogastric animals.

Manuscript received 21 May 1955.