The blind pouch used by hind-gut fermenters for fermentation of fibrous feedstuffs is called the cecum. It is a large, blind-ended sac located at the junction of the small and large intestines in animals such as horses, rabbits, and some rodents. The cecum contains a high population of microorganisms that help break down fibrous plant material into nutrients that can be absorbed by the animal. This process of fermentation in the cecum allows hind-gut fermenters to extract more energy from their food than they would be able to through digestion alone.
