Volatile fatty acid metabolism in sheep. 1. Average daily volatile fatty acid production in the rumen of sheep fed lucerne hay.

Changes in the total concentration of the volatile fatty acid (VFA) pool in the rumen were followed over a 24 hour period in 2 groups of sheep, 1 fed at 08h00 and the other twice daily at 08h00 and 20h00. Although similar maximum (143 and 147 meq/1) and average (100, 3 and 102, 1 meq/1) levels were found in the 12 and 24 h groups respectively, the twice daily feeding regimen resulted in a lower variation (S.D.=17, 0 meq/1 and 28, 9 meq/1 respectively). It was concluded from changes in the percentage molar composition of the VFA pool over the same period that the other of VFA absorption from the rumen was propionate greater than acetate greater than butyrate for both groups, but that the differences were less marked for the twice daily fed sheep. Long term infusions of 14C labelled acetic, propionic and butyric acids into the rumen of sheep fed a total of 1 600 g lucerne hay twice daily (08h00 and 20h00), gave an average net total VFA production rate of 4,52+/-1,01 moles/800 g/12 hours irrespective of the acid infused. The net individual turnover rates for acetic (2,81 moles/12 h), propionic acid (0,82 moles/12 h) and butyric acid (0,55 moles/12 h), derived by the subtraction of the inter-conversion factors from the gross production rates of the acids, and expressed as the percentage contribution of each acid to the total net VFA turnover (acetic=62%, propionic=18% and butyric=12%) closely resembled the percentage molar composition of the VFA pool in the rumen (acetic=60%, propionic=23% and butyric=12%). The total net VFA production was found to be directly proportional to the total VFA concentration in the rumen (correlation coefficient=0,83), and the relationships can be described by the equation y=0,034 x + 0,16 where y=VFA production in moles/12 hour and x=VFA concentration in meq/1. A specific VFA production rate of 0,85 moles per 100 g digestible organic matter was calculated from the average daily VFA production rate and the composition of the lucerne hay.