Digestion of lipids in the reticulon-rumen

Lipids for ruminant animals are three types

❖ Galactolipid, found in grasses and clovers which form major dietary fat of ruminants.

❖ Triglycerides are most abundant in the seeds of plants. So it is important when animals are fed concentrates.

❖ Phospholipids, feeds like soybeans have high amounts of phospholipids.

• The galactolipids will be hydrolyzed by bacterial lipases into free fatty acids, glycerol, and galactose.
• Triglycerides into free fatty acid and glycerol, Phospholipids are hydrolyzed into fatty acids and glycerol with phosphate attached.
• After this secondary type of reaction takes place, Galactose is a monosaccharide, so will be converted to VFA (acetic, propionic, butyric).
• Glycerol is a three-carbon compound (trihydroxy alcohol), so it will be changed to propionic acid, not to acetic (C2) and butyric (C4) compounds.
• Unlike the short-chain VFA, long-chain fatty acids are not absorbed directly through the rumen wall but rather go down to the lower tract being attached with feed particles or associated.
• protozoa or bacteria.
• This will enter the small intestine where it is digested by the enzyme of the host and absorbed.