Effect of Feeding Certain Defined Nutrients on Cellulose Digestion and Volatile Fatty Acid Concentration of the Rumen

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A functional approach to the design of a purified ration for ruminants was developed. Purified nutrients were force-fed to 2 fistulated steers to determine the simplest combination that would maintain certain rumen functions over a short period. A ration of cellulose, corn starch, and urea was the simplest combination capable of maintaining the cellulose-digesting ability of rumen ingesta for 3 days. With this ration, addition of a casein hydrolysate stimulated cellulose digestion in vitro, and yeast extract was even more stimulatory. No deficiency of valeric or isovaleric acid was demonstrated. Feeding ground cellulose in addition to hay plus supplement or straw plus supplement lowered the ratio of acetic to propionic acid in the rumen.