D. Swart et al., FERMENTATIVE DIGESTION IN THE OSTRICH (STRUTHIO-CAMELUS VAR DOMESTICUS), A LARGE AVIAN SPECIES THAT UTILIZES CELLULOSE, South African journal of animal science, 23(5-6), 1993, pp. 127-135
The production of volatile fatty acids (VFA) was studied in vitro to a
ssess the possible contribution of microbial fermentation to the energ
y economy of growing ostrich chicks. Structure, capacity and contents
of the gastro-intestinal track were examined to identify major sites o
f microbial activity and VFA energy yield. Radioactive substrates were
used to confirm that the products derived from fermentative digestion
could provide nutrients to the host animals. In this experiment the t
heoretical energy contribution of VFA could be as high as 76% of the m
etabolizable energy intake of the growing ostrich chick. The absorptio
n and oxidative metabolism of end products from cellulose fer-mentatio
n was demonstrated to contribute to the metabolizable energy requireme
nts of the growing ostrich.