caecotrophy

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From caecum +‎ -trophy.

Noun

caecotrophy (uncountable)

  1. (biology) In certain mammals, especially rabbits and other lagomorphs, the consumption of food pellets which are naturally produced by means of digestion, retention in the caecum, and expulsion through the anus.
    Hypernym: coprophagy
    • 2008, A. Belenguer et al., "Alternative methodologies to estimate ingestion of caecotrophes in growing rabbits," Livestock Science, vol. 115, no.1, p. 13,
      The second group (T-2: 6 rabbits) was also fed the labelled diet but only during the last ten days of the fattening period when animals were fitted a neck collar to prevent caecotrophy.

See also
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