Hindgut-fermenters like horses and rabbits use the cecum for plant fiber fermentation, contrasting with foregut-fermenting ruminants like cattle and sheep.
Hindgut-fermenters are animals that utilize the cecum (or colon) for the fermentation of plant fiber, such as horses and rabbits. In hindgut fermentation, most digestion and absorption occur before reaching the colon, contributing less energy compared to foregut fermentation.
For example, while horses and rabbits are hindgut-fermenters due to their large ceca, ruminants like cattle and sheep are considered foregut-fermenting animals, utilizing specialized chambers for fermentation in their stomachs.
