Cellulolytic-Factor Activity of Certain Short-Chain Fatty Acids for Rumen Microorganisms in Vitro ,

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Abstract
Studies on the cellulolytic-factor activity of rumen juice for rumen microorganisms in vitro indicated that the volatile fatty acid fraction contained the activity. Results of in vitro experiments using commercially available volatile fatty acids showed that valeric and caproic acids and to a lesser extent iso-butyric and iso-valeric acids markedly increased the rate of cellulose digestion and ammonia utilization. Analytical results showed that the activity of the volatile fatty acid fraction of rumen juice was primarily due to valeric acid. Biotin and para-amino benzoic acid were also required by the microflora for maximum cellulose digestion. This vitamin short-chain fatty acid combination duplicated but was not identical to the microbial cellulolytic factor(s) previously found to be present in certain natural feedstuffs fed to cattle and sheep.
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