Coprophagy[edit | edit source]
Rabbits re-ingest part of their food, usually in the early morning when they are unobserved. They re-ingest only the soft matter that has passed through the digestive tract. Investigators have called this trait "pseudo-rumination" from the characteristics of ruminants (cows sheep and others) that chew the cud, which is food regurgitated and chewed again. Most rabbit breeders are unaware of this practice. Some who have observed it, believe it indicates a nutritional deficiency and lack of quantity and quality of feed. It is however, normal in rabbits and may actually enhance the nutritive value of the feed by virtue of a second passage through the digestive tract.
