What is the differences between hindgut and foregut fermenters?

Answer 1

Hindgut fermenters use microbes (bacteria only) and fermentaion in their hindgut, the caecum and proximal colon.

Microbes that are washed out cannot be digested and therefore high-quality protein is lost.

Examples of hindgut fermenters are horses, koalas, possums, wombats and pigs. (not pigs, because only herbivores have hindgut or foregut)

Foregut Fermeters have two sacs (a tubiform and a sacciform fore stomach) containing lots of microbes. These microbes consume glucose from cellulose but produce fatty acids that the animal can use for energy.

(Microbes can also be digested further along the digestive tract as they are also a source of protein)

Forgut Fermentation is a slower digestive process.

Examples of foregut fermenters are sheep, cattle, hippopotamus, wallabies and pademelons. (generally larger animals)

Answer 2

Hindgut fermenters use microbes (bacteria only) and fermentaion in their hindgut, the caecum and proximal colon.

Examples of hindgut fermenters are horses, koalas, possums, wombats and pigs.

Foregut Fermeters have two sacs (a tubiform and a sacciform fore stomach) containing lots of microbes. These microbes consume glucose from cellulose but produce fatty acids that the animal can use for (Microbes can also be digested further along the digestive tract as they are also a source of protein).Distinct separation of the larger fiber particles from smaller and liquid contents which are retained in the cecum can be recognized in some species. Coprophagy, practiced by many small herbivores, has nutritional significance providing a source of vitamins, amino acids, and other nutrients which are excreted with feces. Among coprophagous mammals, several species produce two types of feces: soft feces, which are eaten; and hard, which are not eaten. Soft feces contain more water than hard feces and dry matter includes more protein and less fiber. Coprophagic behavior must be supported by the colonic separation mechanism, which operates retrograde transport of fluid and fine particle digesta or bacteria trapped in the mucus, resulting in high density bacteria in the cecum contents, which is successively consumed as cecotroph.

Forgut Fermentation is a slower digestive process.

Examples of foregut fermenters are sheep, cattle, hippopotamus, wallabies and pademelons. (generally larger animals).To complement the fermentation process, ruminants(Foregut fermenters) periodically regurgitate and rechew their food. Aptly called rumination (or "chewing the cud" ), this mechanical digestion physically breaks down the larger food particles to increase the surface area for microbial action. By chewing their food twice, ruminants avoid having to chew their food thoroughly while foraging (often a vulnerable activity) - proper mastication can be performed while resting, with the head raised and alert for danger.

Answer 3

Hindgut fermenters use microbes (bacteria only) and fermentaion in their hindgut, the caecum and proximal colon.

Microbes that are washed out cannot be digested and therefore high-quality protein is lost.

Examples of hindgut fermenters are horses, koalas, possums, wombats and pigs. (not pigs, because only herbivores have hindgut or foregut)

Foregut Fermeters have two sacs (a tubiform and a sacciform fore stomach) containing lots of microbes. These microbes consume glucose from cellulose but produce fatty acids that the animal can use for energy.

(Microbes can also be digested further along the digestive tract as they are also a source of protein)

Forgut Fermentation is a slower digestive process.

Examples of foregut fermenters are sheep, cattle, hippopotamus, wallabies and pademelons. (generally larger animals)

Read more: What_is_the_differences_between_hindgut_and_foregut_fermenters

Answer 4

The advantages of foregut fermentation is that the animal receives more nutrients from its food and the process is more efficient. While hindgut fermentation is more difficult and the animal will often eat their own feces as its digested food matter still high in nutrients. The benefit to hindgut fermentation is they can expel the microflora from their gut , which is helpful for hibernating herbivores.