Productive Limits to Rumen Fermentation

Abstract

This paper is a review of the current knowledge on the productive limits to rumen fermentation. The following topics are discussed: Ruminal carbohydrate fermentation and ATP generation; heat and gas losses during ruminal fermentation; ruminal microbial growth yields and efficiency; Y_ATP and the maintenance coefficient; manipulation of fermentation products and growth efficiency; digesta passage and substrate disappearance; the role of ciliate protozoa in the rumen. This review reempha-sizes the need for even further study to enhance the utilization of feedstuffs for optimal animal production. Copyright © 1977. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1977 by American Society of Animal Science.