Fermentative Digestion

Question 1

What are the hydrolytic digestion endpoints for carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids?

Answer 1

carbohydrates - monosaccharides
proteins - peptides or amino acids
lipids - monoglycerides, fatty acids, glycerol

Question 2

What are the fermentative digestion endpoints for carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and microbial cells

Answer 2

carbohydrates - FA, CO2, CH4
proteins - ammonia, keto acids
lipids - fatty acids, propionate
microbial cells - anaerobes

Question 3

Name the 4 prerequisites for fermentative digestion

Answer 3

reservoir
oxygen content
acidity
removal mechanism

Question 4

Name the hindgut fermentor for the following: horse, pig, dog, rabbit, rat

Answer 4

horse - sacculated colon
pig - sacculated colon
dog - unsacculated colon
rabbit - cecum
rat - cecum

Question 5

Name some characteristics of indigenous intestinal microorganisms

Answer 5

grow anaerobically
always found in adult animal
colonize specific areas of the GI tract
maintain stable populations
contribute to nutrient economy of host

Question 6

Name some characteristics of non-indigenous intestinal microorganisms

Answer 6

not characteristic of habitat
occupy niche in a habitat vacated by indigenous microbes
may cause disease in new host

Question 7

What determines the microbial population of the GI tract?

Answer 7

substrate (carbohydrate vs. nitrogen)

environment (pH and retention time)

Question 8

Bacterial ecology in the rumen

Answer 8

30% free in liquid phase of digesta
65% attache to food particles
3% attached to ruminal epithelium
2% attached to protozoa