Effect of Coprophagy on Protein Utilization in the Rat

Diets differing widely in protein quality were fed to male weanling rats, and the effect of coprophagy on protein utilization was determined. In a metabolism study in which animals consumed 5 g daily of diets containing 10% protein, preventing coprophagy decreased biological value and nitrogen absorption, and increased urinary nitrogen excretion and metabolic fecal nitrogen. In a growth study in which animals consumed diets containing 10% protein and libitum, coprophagy prevention resulted in lower protein efficiency ratios and weight gains, but had little effect on feed intake.