Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #159392
Title: DIGESTA PROCESSING AND FERMENTATION

Author
item Yen, Jong Tseng

Submitted to: Encyclopedia of Animal Science
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/18/2003
Publication Date: 11/1/2004
Citation: Yen, J. 2005. Digesta processing and fermentation. In: Pond, W.G., Bell, A.W., editors. Encyclopedia of Animal Science. Marcel Dekker,Inc., New York, NY. p. 282-284.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: This entry describes physical processing of digesta and more detail fermentative processes of digestion. The information provided in this entry is extracted from several textbooks on physiology of domestic animals and a monograph on physiology of the vertebrate digestive system. This entry also provides some perspectives of future ruminant animal nutrition research. The total release of CH4 from domestic animals and the decay of animal wastes accounts for 30% of the total anthropogenic CH4 source. Conversion of ruminal CO2 to acetate instead of CH4 would decrease the undesirable CH4 emission associated with livestock operations and simultaneously increase the yield of gut acetate as a source of energy for the ruminant. Elimination or minimization of rumen CH4 production should be a goal of major animal nutrition research programs.