Features of Digestion in Ruminants
Ruminants’ gastro-intestinal tract holds numerous colonies of microorganisms. The type of microbes depends upon the diet and modifies accordingly as the age advances. A complex interaction exists between the host animal and variety of microbes.
The gastro-intestinal tract of ruminants is unable to digest cellulose due to the lack of the degrading enzymes, hence completely relies on metabolic activities of gut microbes in utilizing the complex carbohydrate-based feed such as roughage. The fibrous materials retain in the gut for longer period to support the slow fermenting property of microbes. Among the fibrous particles, larger ones are retained at the reticulo-omasal orifice for mechanical digestion. Microbial fermentation produces volatile fatty acids, mainly acetate, propionate, and butyrate, which are of high value to the host ruminant system. Nearly 70% of the energy supply will be met by the produced volatile fatty acids. The ruminal microbes can also use non-protein nitrogen compounds such as ammonia to synthesize amino acids. The host proteolytic enzymes later digest the synthesized microbial protein. The gases produced by fermentation viz. CO2 and CH4 are expelled by eructation. In ruminant digestive system, saliva plays an indispensable role for buffering action against VFAs and monitoring the rumen pH. Therefore, physical effective NDF, a fraction of fiber that stimulates chewing activity and saliva production, is an important parameter to be considered while feeding the animals. Fermentation also allows detoxification of toxic substances before reaching small intestine.14.3
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