Rumen Bypass and Protection of Proteins and Amino Acids

Abstract

Potent rumen microbial proteases and deaminases rapidly degrade protein and amino acids which are soluble in the rumen liquid phase. Because protein sources vary in their solubility, the degree of degradation in the rumen is variable. Methods of decreasing protein and amino acid degradation in the rumen include heat treatment, chemical treatment, encapsulation, use of amino acid analogs, selective manipulation of balances of rumen metabolic pathways, and esophageal groove closure. It is important that procedures do not interfere with ruminal metabolism or post-ruminal digestion. Bypassing the rumen changes sites in the digestive tract of nutrient digestion and absorption and provides a mechanism for supplementing outflow of nutrients from the rumen. A feasible approach to production of animal protein from ruminants would be utilization of nonprotein nitrogen for rumen protein production, maximization of rumen bypass of dietary protein, and supplementation with rumen nondegradable amino acids.