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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 November 2021
Volatile fatty acids (VFA) constitute the largest fraction of metabolizable energy absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract of dairy cows. The molar proportion of individual VFA is important because individual VFA have a different fate in intermediary metabolism. However, rumen models predict the VFA molar proportions inaccurately from feed characteristics (Dijkstra, 1993). To investigate what model elements are responsible for this inaccuracy, modified descriptions of several elements were tested and sensitivity of VFA predictions was determined. This simulation study aims to identify model elements whose improved description can contribute to a more accurate prediction of VFA molar proportions.