Describe the relative efficiencies of the production of the VFA's. Determine the importance of lactate production Identify the role of microbial digestion of carbohydrates in colonic health in the dog.
Microbes can degrade and synthesize many of the organic nutrients utilized by animals.
Microbes can degrade the beta linkages of fiber and thus allow the animal to potentially gain energy from otherwise unusable sources. The location of the microbial population relative in the GI system alters the contribution of the microbes to animal nutrition. Although cellulose is glucose chains with beta links, very little glucose makes it to the small intestine. Propionate production is more efficient, however all grain rations are not healthy for a ruminant. The rumen microbes can only make so much protein.