ANATOMSKE I FIZIOLOŠKE KARAKTERISTIKE KUNIĆA VAŽNE ZA PRAVILNU PREHRANU KUNIĆA

master's thesis

• Title (english): ANATOMICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A RABBIT AND THEIR IMPORTANCE IN PROPER NUTRITION
• Author: Klaudia Kučić (Gagić)
• Mentor: Tomislav Mašek (mentor)
• Mentor: Kristina Starčević (mentor)
• Committee member: Željko Mikulec (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Tomislav Mašek (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Kristina Starčević (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Maja Maurić Maljković (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2021-10, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Veterinary Medicine; Animal Production and Biotechnology

Abstract

Kunić (Oryctolagus) pripada redu dvojezubaca (Lagomorpha) i porodici zečeva
(Leporidae). Prema načinu prehrane spadaju u obligatne biljojede. Kunići imaju mogućnost
unosa velike količine hrane koja brzo prolazi kroz organizam. U želucu i tankom crijevu
probava i apsorpcija slična je kao kod monogastričnih životinja. Posebnost probavnog sustava
je razdvajanje većih od manjih čestica u proksimalnom dijelu debelog crijeva gdje svaka od
navedenih komponenti biva posebno odvojena. Veće čestice se izluče dok se manje čestice
vračaju u slijepo crijevo. Unutar slijepog crijeva sadržaj je podvrgnut djelovanju crijevne
mikroflore što rezultira sintezom aminokiselina, hlapljivih masnih kiselina i vitamina topljivih
u vodi. Neki hranjivi sastojci apsorbiraju se kroz stjenku debelog crijeva, a preostali sadržaj
tankog crijeva tvori meku pastu tamne boje bogatu bakterijama, aminokiselinama, vitaminima
i mineralima. Pasta se izbacuje kao mekani izmet kojeg nazivamo cekotrofi. Cekotrofi su
ponovno progutani kao važan izvor hranjivih tvari. Ova probavna strategija koristi bakterijsku
fermentaciju za sintezu hranjivih tvari i izbjegava potrebu skladištenja velikih količina hrane
u probavnom traktu te na taj način nema potrebe dugog boravka na ispaši i izloženosti
grabežljivcima.
Osnovni element hranjivih tvari je voda koja sudjeluje u razgradnji i apsorpciji hrane,
olakšava probavu i oslobađa organizam od štetnih tvari. Ugljikohidrati su važan izvor energije
nezamjenjivi za fiziološku motoriku crijeva i glavni su sastojak cekotrofa. Uz ugljikohidrate
kao izvor energije koriste se i masti, a za normalan rast, razvoj, obranu i izgradnju organizma
neophodne su bjelančevine. Također za održavanje fiziološkog stanja organizma kunića
potrebni su vitamini i minerali koju sudjeluju u monogobrojnim metaboličkim procesima i u
regulaciji koncentracije nužnih nutrijenata.

Abstract (english)

Rabbit (Oryctolagus) are species from order of Lagomorpha and family of Leporidae.
Based on their diet rabbits are obligatory herbivores. Rabbits have ability to ingest big
quantities of food, which passes quickly through their system. Digestion and absorption in
stomach and small intestine are similar to those in monogastric animals. Peculiarity of their
gastrointestinal system is separation of larger particles from smaller ones in proximal colon,
where each particle becomes individually sorted. Bigger particles are being excreted, while
smaller ones are recirculating back into appendix. Inside appendix food content is exposed to
intestinal microbiome, which in turn produces aminoacids, volatile fatty acids and water
soluble vitamins. Some nutrient are then absorbed through wall of the colon, whereas
remaining content inside small intestine forms dark colored soft paste, rich in aminoacids,
bacteria, vitamins and minerals. Paste is being extracted as specific, nutrient dense faeces
named caecotroph, which is then ingested for the second time, as it is important source of
nutrients. This digestive strategy is based on bacterial fermentation through which it
synthesises nutrients and therefore avoids the need for accumulating large food quantities
inside digestive tract, which is another advantage as it reduces amount of time during which
rabbits are exposed to danger of predator presence.
Core element of nutrition is water which is involved in digestion and absorption of
food and also reduces concentration of toxic substances in organism. Carbohydrates are main
ingredient of caecotrophs and important source of energy as their importance is irreplaceable
for physiology of bowel movement. Rabbits also have ability to use fatty acids as their energy
source, while on the other hand proteins are crucial for normal growth, development and
immune system function. Another important part of rabbit nutrition are vitamins and minerals
which are enabling numerous metabolic processes and regulating concentration of vital
nutrients.

• Keywords: kunić; probavni sustav; hranjive tvari
• Keywords (english): rabbit; gastrointestinal system; nutrients
• Language: croatian
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:178:090657
• Study programme: Title: Veterinary Medicine; Study programme type: university; Study level: integrated undergraduate and graduate; Academic / professional title: doktor/doktorica veterinarske medicine (doktor/doktorica veterinarske medicine)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2021-10-20 12:08:46