Feeding experiments of four temperate grasses were conducted with golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) which had been proposed as new pilot animals for ruminants, and with rabbits (Oryctologus cuniculus). The results obtained using golden hamsters were compared with those obtained using rabbits. In vivo digestibilities with golden hamsters and rabbits were also compared with in vitro digestibilities obtained by an artificial rumen procedure, in order to know their applicability to evaluate the feeding value of forage for ruminants. The digestibilities of all the chemical components except crude fat with golden hamsters showed lower values than those with rabbits. In vivo digestibilities of dry matter and CWC with both animals were markedly lower than in vitro digestibilities. In the pregastric pouch of the hamster, fermentation of fibrous materials observed in the rumen was not likely to occur, as the observed pH values ranged within 4.8-5.5 and only a small amount of VFA was detected in the pregastric contents. The ranking in dry matter digestibility with hamsters and rabbits has similar tendency compared with the results obtained by an artificial rumen procedure. The ranking in estimated DCP and TDN obtained using the respective animals were in the same order. As the results of this experiment, the authors suggest that the golden hamster may be useful as a pilot animal for the evaluation of relative quality of forage for ruminants.