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Forage plant cyclitols are readily fermented by the ruminant
Author(s) -
Lowry J Brian,
Kennedy Peter M
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740670104
Subject(s) - ruminant , fermentation , rumen , monogastric , propionate , forage , cyclitol , food science , biology , leavening agent , mannitol , animal nutrition , chemistry , botany , biochemistry , agronomy , inositol , pasture , receptor
In an in vitro rumen fermentation system the plant cyclitols, inositol, pinitol and quebrachitol were degraded within 48 h with gas evolution, an index of fermentation, comparable to that from mannitol and cellulose. Most of the cyclitol ring carbons appeared as volatile fatty acids (acetate, 1.2–1.5 mol; propionate, 0.8–1.0 mol). Their value as an energy source for the ruminant can thus be equated with soluble sugars, in marked contrast to their role in monogastric animal nutrition. They may be important in dry‐season tropical pastures because of their high levels in water‐stressed legumes.