Abstract
Two digestibility studies were conducted with lambs to determine the effects of corn oil and fatty acids upon the digestibility of a ration containing 46% corn cobs. Studies were conducted in vitro to determine the effects of various fatty acids (C2–C18) and glycerol upon the digestion of cellulose by rumen microorganisms. In the digestibility studies involving 42 lambs, 5% corn oil, 5% of a mixture of fatty acids, 1% lauric acid, 5% stearic acid, and 5% oleic acid significantly decreased the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and cellulose and significantly increased the digestibility of ether extract. All but lauric acid significantly decreased digestibility of ash. In studies conducted in vitro, butyric acid, valeric acid, and glycerol significantly increased cellulose digestion. Acetic and caproic acids had no effect at the level used. The saturated fatty acids from C8 to C18 had a significant depressing effect upon cellulose digestion by rumen bacteria. Oleic and linoleic acids significantly decreased cellulose digestion. Copyright © . .