Fat digestion takes place in the small intestine when the lipid first comes into contact with bile from the liver. Lipase enzymes then digest the lipids. These fatty acids are then absorbed across the intestinal wall, made into triglycerides, and transported throughout the body. Return to the top of this page. Primary source of energy for the sheep are VFA or volitale fatty acids.
Amino acids are the primary end-products of digestion in the ruminant.
After they are absorbed in the small intestine they enter the bloodstream where they travel to the liver. The liver then directs them to the body tissues where they are needed. The excess is then degraded and the nitrogen part is converted to urea. The urea is then either recycled to the digestive tract or excreted. To Return to the top, click here.