EFFECT OF DIETARY LIPIDS ON NITROGEN-METABOLISM IN THE RUMEN - A REVIEW

This paper deals with the influence of supplementary lipids in the die t on protein degradation and microbial synthesis in the rumen, through the effect of lipids on the microbial ecosystem. Global effects of li pids can be summarized by a trend to decrease ammonia ruminal concentr ation but duodenal non-ammonia nitrogen flow is not modified. The two components of this flow, non-microbial and microbial flows, generally are not modified so that it can be deduced that modifications of degra dation and microbial synthesis due to lipid addition are of low extent . The efficiency of microbial synthesis depends on the nature of fatty acids and is increased especially when organic matter ruminal digesti bility is depressed; this can be related to the decrease in protozoa n umber in the rumen.