Chapter 4

Question 1

What is the primary site of carbohydrate digestion in monogastrics?

Answer 1

The small intestine

Question 2

Which enzyme acts on alpha 1,4 links and removes disaccharide units in monogastrics?

Answer 2

Pancreatic amylase

Question 3

Where do disaccharides get broken down into glucose in monogastrics?

Answer 3

The brush-border of the small intestine

Question 4

What transports glucose into the brush-border in monogastrics?

Answer 4

ATP-dependent glucose transporters

Question 5

What type of polysaccharides in the hindgut can serve as an energy source for microbes in monogastrics?

Answer 5

Fiber, nonstarch polysaccharides (NSP)

Question 6

What is a major difference in carbohydrate digestion between ruminants and monogastrics?

Answer 6

Ruminants do not secrete amylase in the saliva and most carbohydrates are fermented in the rumen by microbial enzymes

Question 7

What are the end products of carbohydrate fermentation in the rumen of ruminants?

Answer 7

Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) such as acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid

Question 8

How are VFAs absorbed in ruminants?

Answer 8

Through the rumen wall into the portal vein

Question 9

What happens to the ratio of VFAs with different types of diets in ruminants?

Answer 9

Roughage diets favor more acetic acid, while concentrate diets favor more propionic acid

Question 10

What is a common carbohydrate fermentation disorder in ruminants, especially with high-starch diets or sudden diet changes?

Answer 10

Rumen acidosis (grain overload)