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The present study examined differences in faecal digestibilities of organic matter (dOM) and crude protein (dXP), between growing pigs housed either in pens as groups or individually in metabolism cages. In addition, a study was made of the influence of dietary composition on these observed differences. Four experimental diets were composed by iso‐energetic exchange of maize starch in the control diet with purified cellulose (260 g kg^‐1), toasted soyabean hulls (280 g kg^‐1) or renderers fat (67 g kg^‐1), respectively. Both in pens and in metabolism cages, dOM and dXP were measured, using both chromic oxide (Cr₂O₃) and acid‐insoluble ash (AIA) as markers. In metabolism cages, the results of the marker method were compared to those of the classical method, where dOM and dXP were measured by collecting faeces quantitatively. Recoveries of both markers were measured, after a period of 10 and 3 days …