Microbial Contribution

Question 1

What do microbes use as fuel?

Answer 1

Amino Acid
Lipids
Carbohydrates
Fiber and Non-fiber carbohydrates

Question 2

What are the primary fermentation endproduct?

Answer 2

1. Acetate
2. Propionate
3. Butyrate
   all volatile fatty acids (VFAs)
   fiber is a by-product

Question 3

What is the fate of Volatile Fatty Acids (VFAs)

Answer 3

Acetate-energy and fat
Propionate-glucose and lactose
Butyrate-Enterocyte fuel

Question 4

How does diet influence VFA production in the ruminant?

Answer 4

More starch-more propionate-more lactose-more milk volume
starch-non fiber
More cellulose-more acetate-more fat in milk

Question 5

What % of daily energy comes from products of microbial fermentation?

Answer 5

Cattle-up to 80%
Horse-up to 50%
Pig-20%
Human-10%
Dogs and Cat-5%

Question 6

Coporophagic species

Answer 6

eat poop to gain microbial protein lost in feces

Question 7

Are fats bad?

Answer 7

Fatty acids coat fiber particles
maximum dietary fat
foregut fermenter-8% fat DM
hindgut fermenter-15% fat DM

Question 8

What else do gut microbes contribute?

Answer 8

vitamins
cobalamin (B12)
biotin
vitamin K (menaquinone)

Question 9

Can we negatively alter the gut microbial population?

Answer 9

Yes

Question 10

Can we positively alter the gut microbial population?

Answer 10

Prebiotic
transfaunation (access to heathy rumen) (microbes from one canula cow to another cow)
fecal enemas (repoopulate, clostridial colitis)
probiotics