Fat Digestion in ruminants Fate of rumen lipids Dietary lipids occur as structural lipids in forages and storage lipids in oilseeds. In forages, less than 50% of total lipids are free fatty acids and the majority of them are phospholipids. In oilseeds, 65-80% of lipids are free fatty acids. Rumen microbes hydrolyze the dietary lipids […]
Protein digestion in ruminants Rumen microbial population have proteolytic activity. The diet of ruminants contains proteins and non-protein nitrogenous (NPN) substances (ammonia, nitrates, urea). Of the total proteins entering the rumen, 20 to 100% will be degraded to ammonia which are referred as rumen degradable protein (RDP). The fraction which is not degraded by the microbes
Significance of methane production in ruminants The carbohydrate fermenting bacteria produce formate, hydrogen and CO2. The methanogens transform the H2 and CO2 into CH4. The formate is converted into H2 and CO2. Methanogens preferentially use formate as substrate for methanogenesis. The methanogens act as an electron sink and favors acetate production. This is known as interspecies H2 transfer that
Degradation of different carbohydrates Four steps are involved in the degradation of carbohydrates. these are Adherence, Disaggregation, Extra-cellular and Intra-cellular degradation. 1. Adherence Adherence is the most important factor in fiber digestion. Coccoid show preference to get attached to plant cell wall. Adherence helps the bacteria to be retained for a longer time and facilitates sustained
Rumen Microorganisms and functions Rumen Bacteria 1. Cellulolytic Species Fibrobacter succinogenesRuminococcus albus & R. flavifaciensButyrivibrio fibrisolvens 2 Hemicellulolytic Species Butyrivibrio fibrisolvensRuminococcus sp. &Bacteroides ruminicola 3. Pectinolytic Species Butyrivibrio fibrisolvensBacteroides ruminicolaSuccinivibrio dextrinosolvens 4. Amylolytic Species Bacteroides amylophilusStreptococcus bovisSuccinomonas amylolytica 5. Ureolytic Species Succinivibrio dextrisolvensSelenomonas sp.Butyrivibrio spBacteroides ruminicola 6. Methane producingSpecies Methanobrevibacter ruminantiumMethanobacterium formicicumMethanomicrobium mobile 7. Sugar-Utilising Species Treponema
Rumen fermentation in ruminants The unique feature of digestive physiology in the ruminants is the fermentative digestion known as microbial digestion which occurs in the rumen and reticulum. Microbial digestion of food also occurs in the three chambered ruminates, camel, lama and in the stomach of marsupials and in hippopotamus. Anaerobic ciliate protozoa and non-spore forming anaerobic bacteria and anaerobic fungi are
Vomiting (emesis) in animals is the spasmodic and forceful ejection of stomach contents through the dilated esophagus and out of the mouth.
Foreign objects in rumen Indigestible objects which are occasionally swallowed without proper mastication pass to the rumen. If the surface of the piece is sharp, it causes inflammatory reaction in the mucosa of reticulum and rumen. This leads to infectious spread on pericardium, peritoneum or pleuaral membrane (Traumatic Reticulo Peritonitis and Traumatic Pericarditis). High density material pass via cranial
Mechanical factors influencing motility of rumen When animal feeds, heavier boli they pass from oesophagus to cranial sac of rumen and are immediately passed into reticulum and omasum through reticulo-omasal opening. Heavier feed are retained less time for microbial fermentation. Coarse particles of hay are retained for more hours than finely chopped hay. Fermentative activity and contractions of the pillars of
Mechanical factors influencing motility of rumen Read More »
Motility in rumen and reticulum There are two patterns of motility are seen in reticulo-rumen Primary or mixing contractions called primary cycle Secondary or eructation contractions known as secondary cycle Primary contractions The primary cycle consists of a biphasic contraction of reticulum a caudal moving single contraction of dorsal sac a contraction of ventral sac of rumen. In the
