ʻO ka ʻai ʻīlio he meaʻai momona i hoʻolako kūikawā ʻia no nā ʻīlio, kahi meaʻai holoholona kiʻekiʻe ma waena o ka meaʻai kanaka a me nā holoholona kahiko a me ka hānai moa.
ʻO kāna kuleana nui ka hāʻawi ʻana i nā ʻīlio holoholona me ke kākoʻo ola maʻamau, ka ulu a me ka ulu ʻana a me nā pono olakino o nā meaʻai.Loaʻa iā ia nā mea maikaʻi o ka meaʻai piha, ka digestion kiʻekiʻe a me ka absorption rate, ka ʻepekema ʻepekema, ke kūlana maikaʻi, ka hānai kūpono a hiki ke pale i kekahi mau maʻi.
Hoʻokaʻawale ʻia ʻo ia i ʻelua ʻāpana: ka palaoa puffed a me ka palaoa mahu.