VPB 121: Veterinary Physiology - II (2+1)

FUNCTIONS OF RUMEN MICRO-ORGANISMS

• Ferment the dietary carbohydrates including the cell wall constituents of plants, which can not be enzymatically digested by the mammals.
• Produces short chain fatty acids like acetic, butyric, propionic and lactic acids and gases such as CO₂, Methane, and H₂.
• The short chain fatty acids are absorbed from the rumen and are the major energy source of the ruminants.
• By microbial enzymes the dietary proteins are broken down in to ammonia and branched-chain VFAs.
• The short chain fatty acids and NH₃ are utilised for  growth of microbes and microbial protein synthesis.
• The microbial proteins are utilised by the host animal as a source of quality protein.
• Triglycerides are hydrolysed to glycerol and fatty acids. The glycerol is converted to propionic acid. The unsaturated fatty acids are hydrogenated .
• Microbes synthesize vitamin K and B complex vitamins.