What type of micro organisms digest cellulose carbohydrate present in the grass food of a ruminant
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___________________________________________________________HiCows' guts (their digestive tracts, or intestines) are packed with microscopic organisms: bacteria, fungi, and single-celled animals called protozoa. They aren't alone in this - all animals carry a huge load of bacteria - but the microbes that live in one special gut compartment in cows (and other ruminants) are special: they digest cellulose. This makes a whole new energy source available to the cow. There's a lot of energy in cellulose, but most animals are simply unable to digest it because they don't have the necessary enzymes. That's where the microbes come in.
The ruminant digestive tract (University of Minnesota, 1996), showing the rumen,
where most cellulose digestion takes place.
return to top When were rumen microbes first discovered?The single-celled animals (protozoa) living in the rumen were first discovered in 1843. Later that century, other researchers discovered that a range of bacteria also lived in this part of the gut. By the end of the 19th century, scientists were coming to realise that microorganisms were important in helping ruminant animals to gain nutrients from their food (Hungate, 1966). For example, when they killed the rumen bacteria in a sample of stomach contents (using an antiseptic) and then mixed the fluid with cellulose, the cellulose wasn’t digested. But when rumen fluids and cellulose were mixed together without an antiseptic, various gases and acids were produced, which showed that the cellulose had been broken down. This was followed by research looking at what was actually produced during rumen fermentation. It turned out that one product, short-chain fatty acids, provided a large proportion of a cow’s energy __________________________________________Hope u like it!
The ruminant digestive tract (University of Minnesota, 1996), showing the rumen,
where most cellulose digestion takes place.
return to top When were rumen microbes first discovered?The single-celled animals (protozoa) living in the rumen were first discovered in 1843. Later that century, other researchers discovered that a range of bacteria also lived in this part of the gut. By the end of the 19th century, scientists were coming to realise that microorganisms were important in helping ruminant animals to gain nutrients from their food (Hungate, 1966). For example, when they killed the rumen bacteria in a sample of stomach contents (using an antiseptic) and then mixed the fluid with cellulose, the cellulose wasn’t digested. But when rumen fluids and cellulose were mixed together without an antiseptic, various gases and acids were produced, which showed that the cellulose had been broken down. This was followed by research looking at what was actually produced during rumen fermentation. It turned out that one product, short-chain fatty acids, provided a large proportion of a cow’s energy __________________________________________Hope u like it!
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