Ruminant Digestion

Question 1

How is ruminant saliva different than non-ruminant saliva?

Answer 1

Ruminants produce much more saliva with a higher pH and higher concentration of bicarbonate, and also contains urea

Question 2

How is energy obtained for microbe growth?

Answer 2

Partial oxidation of carbohydreates

Question 3

How are do VFAs get into the bloodstream?

Answer 3

Move out of rumen directly into bloodstream

Question 4

What are volatile fatty acids? Then name three.

Answer 4

Short chain fatty acids with 2-4 carbons. Acetic acid, proprionic acid, and butyric acid

Question 5

What occurs in the first stage of rumen metabolism?

Answer 5

Hydrolysis of feedstuff, digestion of polysaccharides, production of enzymes (Cellulase, alpha-amylase, pectinase, hemicellulase, sucrase)

Question 6

What occurs in the second stage of rumen metabolism?

Answer 6

Products of hydrolysis are used for intracellular glycolysis, pyruvate is converted to lactic acid and NADH reduces substrates to VFAs

Question 7

What occurs in the third stage of rumen metabolism?

Answer 7

VFA and methane formation from pyruvate

Question 8

What does formate from pyruvate form?

Answer 8

Methane

Question 9

What does pyruvate turn into to form acetic acid?

Answer 9

Acetyl phosphate

Question 10

What does pyruvate turn into to form butyric acid?

Answer 10

Acetyl CoA

Question 11

What does pyruvate turn into to form proprionic acid?

Answer 11

Lactate or oxaloacetate