AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The rumen is well known as a natural bioreactor for highly efficient degradation of fibers, and rumen microbes play an important role on fiber degradation. Carbohydrates are fermented by a variety of bacteria in the rumen and transformed into volatile fatty acids (VFAs) by the corresponding enzymes.

Detailed explanation-2: -These acids are important because: they are the major source (70%) of energy for the ruminant • the proportions in which they are produced determine fat and protein content of milk. The three major Volatile Fatty Acids produced are acetate (or acetic acid), propionate (or propionic acid) and butyrate (or butyric acid).

Detailed explanation-3: -In ruminants, the predominant volatile fatty acid is propionate, which is produced by Lactobacillus spp. present in the rumen but absent from the rabbit caecal microflora (Cheeke, 1987). In rabbits, acetates predominate, followed by butyrate and propionate with small quantities of isobutyrate, isovalerate and valerate.

Detailed explanation-4: -Volatile fatty acids (VFA) are produced in large amounts through ruminal fermentation and are of paramount importance in that they provide greater than 70% of the ruminant’s energy supply.