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. 1965 Oct;97(1):53–58. doi: 10.1042/bj0970053

Interconversions and production of volatile fatty acids in the sheep rumen

E N Bergman 1,*, R S Reid 1, Moira G Murray 1, J M Brockway 1, F G Whitelaw 1
PMCID: PMC1264542  PMID: 16749123

Abstract

1. Sheep fed at a constant rate were infused intraruminally with [1-14C]-acetate, -propionate or -butyrate during 5hr. periods. 2. Volatile fatty acids were estimated in the rumen contents and steady-state conditions were obtained. 3. Of the butyric acid carbon 60% was in equilibrium with 20% of the acetic acid carbon, and 2–3g.atoms of carbon were interconverted/day. 4. Little interconversion took place between propionic acid, acetic acid or butyric acid. 5. The net production rates for acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid were 3·7, 1·0 and 0·7moles/day respectively. 6. The production of volatile fatty acids accounted for 80% of the animal's energy expenditure.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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