Iterative computation of metabolic flux and stoichiometric parameters for alternate pathways in rumen fermentation.
A model is presented which has been derived to compute the end-products of rumen fermentation from knowledge of the input of feedstuff. The model comprises a set of algebraic equations for the fermentation of each of the following feedstuff components: soluble sugars, starch, cellulose, hemicellulose and protein. The equations were derived from known biochemical stoichiometric relationships. A iterative, non-linear least sqares method (steepest descent) was used to estimate parameter values. In a sample run the inputs used were from an experiment where eight sheep were fed white clover. The model predicted values were in good agreement with the experimental values.
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003201:Computers; D005285:Fermentation; D008433:Mathematics; D008954:Models, Biological; D012417:Rumen / Q000502:physiology*; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*