Effect of undernutrition on the ability of the sheep rumen to absorb volatile fatty acids.
The ability of the rumen to absorb the same quantity of VFA with 4 animals previously fed with 2 levels of intake was tested. Animals received maintenance (P1) and half maintenance (P2) energy and nitrogen requirements successively. Absorption was measured with the empty washed rumen technique. Three litres of a solution buffered at pH 6.30 containing VFA (C2:57.1, C3:49.2 and C4:7.4 mM or C2:79.8, C3:23.5 and C4:11.5 mM) and CoEDTA (7.1 mg Co/l) were introduced in the rumen and regularly sampled for 3 h. VFA absorption was linear during the trials. Rates of absorption were expressed as mmol/h or percentage of initial quantity/h for the comparison between VFA. The order of absorption rate (%/h) was C4 > C3 > C2. Water absorption was not significantly different between the periods whereas VFA absorption rates (mmol/h) were significantly reduced after undernutrition. Composition of the solution had no significant effect on VFA absorption rate (%/h).
Perrier
R
R
INRA, Laboratoire Sous-Nutrition des Ruminants, Theix, Saint-Genès-Champanelle.
Ferchal
E
E
Durier
C
C
Doreau
M
M
D000042:Absorption; D000818:Animals; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000378:metabolism*; D012417:Rumen / Q000378:metabolism*; D012756:Sheep / Q000378:metabolism*; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism
D004041:Dietary Fats; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D014867:Water