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Metabolism of lactic acid isomers in the rumen of silage-fed sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

M. Gill ,
R. C. Siddons ,
D. E. Beever  and
J. B. Rowe
M. Gill
Affiliation:
The Grassland Research Institute*, Hurley, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 5LR
R. C. Siddons
Affiliation:
The Grassland Research Institute*, Hurley, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 5LR
D. E. Beever
Affiliation:
The Grassland Research Institute*, Hurley, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 5LR
J. B. Rowe
Affiliation:
ICI Pharmaceutical Division, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK10 4TG
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Abstract

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1. Four mature sheep were offered perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne, cv. S23) silage (885 g dry matter/d) at hourly intervals. The silage was well fermented with a pH of 4.0, a lactic acid content of 139 g/kg dry matter and an organic matter digestibility of 0.766.

2. Continuous intraruminal infusions of 14C-labelled sodium salts of [U-14C]acetic acid, [2-14C]propionic acid, [2-14C]butyric acid and D- and L-[U-14C]lactic acid and an intravenous infusion of [U-14C]glucose were made on separate occasions to estimate the fluxes of rumen acetate, propionate, butyrate and lactate as well as plasma glucose. The data were resolved by the use of appropriate four-compartment (rumen) and three-compartment (rumen-plasma) models.

3. Irreversible loss rate (g C/h) of rumen acetate (5.32 g C/h) was considerably greater than values obtained for propionate (2.58), butyrate (2.80) and lactate (2.91).

4. Total flux of lactate (1.83 mol/d) exceeded the amount of lactate consumed in the diet (1.37 mol/d) indicating a net synthesis of 0.46 mol lactate/d. Approximately 0.90 of total lactate flux was metabolized in the rumen, with 1.00 mol/d converted to acetate, 0.57 to propionate and 0.08 to butyrate. The flux to acetate was significantly (P < 0.05) greater than that to propionate. Both the D- and L-isomers appeared to have similar metabolic fates.

5. Lactate appeared to make no direct contribution to glucose flux in the animal, but 0.10 of total lactate was converted to glucose through propionate.

6. The results are discussed in relation to overall lactate metabolism, and it is suggested that almost 0.30 of ruminally digested organic matter may be fermented via lactate.

Type
Papers on General Nutrition
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 55 , Issue 2 , March 1986 , pp. 399 - 407
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1986

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