Effects of Defaunation on Feed Digestibility, Rumen Metabolism and Blood Metabolites

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Two trials were carried out to investigate the influence of protozoa upon ruminant metabolism. The presence of protozoa increased rumen ammonia concentration, but plasma urea levels did not always show corresponding increases. It is suggested that lysine may have been the limiting amino acid when the lambs were defaunated, but that no one amino acid was consistently limiting after protozoa were established. Plasma amino acid concentrations were lower in faunated than in defaunated lambs. Faunation resulted in greater dry matter digestion with two of the three rations, and volatile fatty acid ratios were also altered. The major effect was an increase in butyric acid. Plasma lipid fatty acid distribution indicated greater proportions of oleic acid and smaller proportions of linoleic acid following faunation. Plasma glucose concentrations were not affected. Copyright © 1966. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1966 by American Society of Animal Science

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: