[Effect of feeding pelleted feed on the level of volatile fatty acids in the digestive tract of sheep].

In an experiment with wethers we investigated the effect of complete pelleted feed ration on the concentration of volatile fatty acids in the rumen and intestinal tract. The animals consumed daily 1,300 g of dry matter of a diet which contained 41.81% of meadow hay, 25.28% of barley, 15.37% of sawdust, 14.98% of molasses, 1.32% of urea and 1.24% of a vitamin-mineral supplement for a period of six months. The pelleted diet increased the total amount of volatile fatty acids, the content of propionic acid and especially the content of butyric acid. There appeared a decrease in the ratio of acetate: propionate. On the basis of the greater energy efficiency of the volatile fatty acid production the animals fed pelleted feed showed a better energy balance. A higher VFA concentration was determined also in the large intestine and the cecum, which proves the importance of fermentation porcesses in these organs.