Correct option is D
Correct Answer: (d)
Explanation: Hindgut fermenters rely on microbial digestion occurring after the primary site of nutrient absorption in the small intestine. As a result, microbial products such as volatile fatty acids and microbial biomass are less efficiently absorbed compared to foregut fermentation. A significant portion of energy is lost in feces, leading to lower assimilation efficiency. Therefore, cecal or hindgut fermentation shows the lowest assimilation efficiency among the given gut types.
Information Booster
· Assimilation efficiency reflects how effectively ingested food is converted into usable energy.
· In hindgut fermenters, fermentation occurs in the cecum or large intestine.
· Nutrient absorption precedes fermentation, limiting energy recovery from microbes.
· Examples include horses, rabbits, and some rodents.
· Coprophagy in some hindgut fermenters partially compensates for low efficiency.
Additional Knowledge
Ruminants exhibit high assimilation efficiency because microbial fermentation occurs in the foregut, allowing absorption of microbial proteins and fatty acids. Monogastric animals efficiently digest readily available nutrients using enzymatic digestion. Birds enhance digestion through mechanical grinding in the gizzard, improving nutrient accessibility. In contrast, hindgut fermentation limits access to microbial nutrients, making it the least efficient strategy for energy assimilation.
