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While foregut fermentation is generally considered more efficient, and monogastric animals cannot digest cellulose as efficiently as ruminants, [5] hindgut fermentation allows animals to consume small amounts of low-quality forage all day long and thus survive in conditions where ruminants might not be able to obtain nutrition adequate for their needs.
Monogastrics cannot digest the fiber molecule cellulose as efficiently as ruminants, though the ability to digest cellulose varies amongst species. [2] A monogastric digestive system works as soon as the food enters the mouth. Saliva moistens the food and begins the digestive process.
Being hindgut fermenters, these animals ferment cellulose in an enlarged cecum. In smaller hindgut fermenters of the order Lagomorpha (rabbits, hares, and pikas), and Caviomorph rodents ( Guinea pigs , capybaras , etc.), material from the cecum is formed into cecotropes , passed through the large intestine, expelled and subsequently reingested ...
Cellulose is the most abundant organic polymer on Earth. [6] The cellulose content of cotton fibre is 90%, that of wood is 40–50%, and that of dried hemp is approximately 57%. [7] [8] [9] Cellulose is mainly used to produce paperboard and paper. Smaller quantities are converted into a wide variety of derivative products such as cellophane and ...
Most animals, however, do not produce cellulase; the enzyme needed to digest cellulose. However, some animals and species have developed symbiotic relationships with cellulase-producing bacteria (see termites and metamonads.) This allows termites to use the energy-dense cellulose carbohydrate. [1]
Cellulose is a polymer made with repeated glucose units bonded together by beta-linkages. Humans and many animals lack an enzyme to break the beta-linkages, so they do not digest cellulose. Certain animals, such as termites can digest cellulose, because bacteria possessing the enzyme are present in their gut. Cellulose is insoluble in water.
Sudden ingestion of large amounts of starch or high sugar feeds can cause at the least an indigestion colic, and at the worst potentially fatal colitis or laminitis. [7] Protein is used in all parts of the body, especially muscle, blood, hormones, hooves, and hair cells. [22] The main building blocks of protein are amino acids.
Fiber can be either soluble (pectins and gums) or insoluble (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignocellulose). [16] A simple gastrointestinal tract is not capable of extracting enough nutrients for these animals. One strategy to get the needed nutrition is used by ruminants in which they chew cud in order to process their food a second time.