Effect of diet on individual volatile fatty acids in the rumen of sheep, with particular reference to the effect of low rumen pH and adaptation on high-starch diets

1957 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 691 ◽  
Author(s):  
RL Reid ◽  
JP Hogan ◽  
PK Briggs

Detailed data are presented on changes in the proportions of acetic, propionic, and butyric acids in the rumen after feeding on various diets. Pre-feeding proportions were constant on each diet but varied from a mixture of 72-76 per cent. acetic, 14-16 per cent. propionic, and 10-12 per cent. butyric acid on all-roughage diets to one of 63-65 per cent. acetic, 18-20 per cent. propionic, and 16-18 per cent. butyric acid on a diet containing 70 per cent. wheat grain. On all diets the proportion of propionic acid increased after feeding and reached a peak which coincided with the maximum level of total volatile fatty acids. The response of butyric acid was variable, low levels being recorded on a diet of lucerne chaff and on one containing a high proportion of cracked maize. The proportion of acetic acid always declined after feeding. These responses were modified in experiments on rations containing high proportions of wheaten starch, in which rumen pH fell below 5.0 as a result of lactic acid accumulation. When animals were first fed on such diets, a decline in rumen pH below 5.0-5.5 after feeding was always associated with a pronounced decline in the proportions of propionic and butyric acids, to levels as low as 8 and 5 per cent. respectively. Continued feeding of such diets did not affect the response of butyric acid, but there was evidence of a change in propionic acid production in response to low pH conditions, both in respect to short-term change during experiments in which low rumen pH levels were maintained for considerable periods and to long-term change when such diets were fed intermittently over considerable periods. The implications of these findings are discussed with respect to the effects of pH on individual volatile fatty acid production in the rumen, and on the qualitative nature of the microbial population and on their metabolic patterns.

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruiling Gao ◽  
Zifu Li ◽  
Xiaoqin Zhou ◽  
Wenjun Bao ◽  
Shikun Cheng ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) can be effective and promising alternate carbon sources for microbial lipid production by a few oleaginous yeasts. However, the severe inhibitory effect of high-content (> 10 g/L) VFAs on these yeasts has impeded the production of high lipid yields and their large-scale application. Slightly acidic conditions have been commonly adopted because they have been considered favorable to oleaginous yeast cultivation. However, the acidic pH environment further aggravates this inhibition because VFAs appear largely in an undissociated form under this condition. Alkaline conditions likely alleviate the severe inhibition of high-content VFAs by significantly increasing the dissociation degree of VFAs. This hypothesis should be verified through a systematic research. Results The combined effects of high acetic acid concentrations and alkaline conditions on VFA utilization, cell growth, and lipid accumulation of Yarrowia lipolytica were systematically investigated through batch cultures of Y. lipolytica by using high concentrations (30–110 g/L) of acetic acid as a carbon source at an initial pH ranging from 6 to 10. An initial pH of 8 was determined as optimal. The highest biomass and lipid production (37.14 and 10.11 g/L) were obtained with 70 g/L acetic acid, whereas cultures with > 70 g/L acetic acid had decreased biomass and lipid yield due to excessive anion accumulation. Feasibilities on high-content propionic acid, butyric acid, and mixed VFAs were compared and evaluated. Results indicated that YX/S and YL/S of cultures on butyric acid (0.570, 0.144) were comparable with those on acetic acid (0.578, 0.160) under alkaline conditions. The performance on propionic acid was much inferior to that on other acids. Mixed VFAs were more beneficial to fast adaptation and lipid production than single types of VFA. Furthermore, cultures on food waste (FW) and fruit and vegetable waste (FVW) fermentate were carried out and lipid production was effectively improved under this alkaline condition. The highest biomass and lipid production on FW fermentate reached 14.65 g/L (YX/S: 0.414) and 3.20 g/L (YL/S: 0.091) with a lipid content of 21.86%, respectively. By comparison, the highest biomass and lipid production on FVW fermentate were 11.84 g/L (YX/S: 0.534) and 3.08 g/L (YL/S: 0.139), respectively, with a lipid content of 26.02%. Conclusions This study assumed and verified that alkaline conditions (optimal pH 8) could effectively alleviate the lethal effect of high-content VFA on Y. lipolytica and significantly improve biomass and lipid production. These results could provide a new cultivation strategy to achieve simple utilizations of high-content VFAs and increase lipid production. Feasibilities on FW and FVW-derived VFAs were evaluated, and meaningful information was provided for practical applications.


1957 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. John ◽  
G. Barnett ◽  
R. L. Reid

1. A study has been made of the production of volatile fatty acids obtainable from dried grass and its gross water-soluble and water-insoluble separates, in the artificial rumen, over two growing seasons.2. In contradistinction to fresh grass, the dried grass gives a consistent production of acetic acid proportionately greater than propionic acid, at all stages of maturity, but when aqueous extracts of the dried grass, and the resultant extracted grass, respectively, are examined separately in the artificial rumen, it is found that the former yield preponderating amounts of acetic acid while the latter give amounts of propionic acid equal to, or exceeding, the corresponding productions of acetic acid.3. An examination of the titration curves for the total acids obtained from the dried grass, extracted grass and grass extract runs, indicates an approach to an incomplete relationship between the residual carbohydrate in the extracted grass and cellulose, while the grass extract reveals itself as the chief source of acetic acid in the whole dried grass, the acid being formed very speedily at the start of the run.4. The suggested sources and some of the possible metabolic pathways involved in the formation of v.f.a. from grass are discussed in the text.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Fang ◽  
Sinmin Ji ◽  
Dingwu Huang ◽  
Zhouyue Huang ◽  
Zilong Huang ◽  
...  

This study explores the use of alkaline pretreatments to improve the hydrolyzation of rice husks to produce volatile fatty acids (VFAs). The study investigated the effects of reagent concentration and pretreatment time on protein, carbohydrates, and dissolved chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) dissolution after the pretreatment. The optimum alkaline pretreatment conditions were 0.30 g NaOH (g VS)−1, with a reaction time of 48 h. The experimental results show that when comparing the total VFA (TVFA) yields from the alkaline-pretreated risk husk with those from the untreated rice husk, over 14 d and 2 d, the maximum value reached 1237.7 and 716.0 mg·L−1 with acetic acid and propionic acid and with acetic acid and butyric acid, respectively. After the alkaline pretreatment, TVFAs increased by 72.9%; VFA accumulation grew over time. The study found that alkaline pretreatment can improve VFA yields from rice husks and transform butyric acid fermentation into propionic acid fermentation. The study results can provide guidelines to support the comprehensive utilization of rice husk and waste treatment.


2004 ◽  
Vol 50 (8) ◽  
pp. 169-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Yang ◽  
C. Oh ◽  
S. Hwang

This research has been conducted based on the fact that acetic and butyric acids are favorable substrates for methanogens, and that a low level of propionic acid production during acidogenesis minimizes the inhibition effect on methanogenic growth. Raw swine wastewater was pretreated with ammonia stripping to enhance acidogenesis. The ammonia nitrogen concentration of less than 1.2 g/L did not significantly affect the biochemical acidogenic potential of swine wastewater. For acidogenesis of swine wastewater, a et of experiments were carried out to produce short chain volatile fatty acids (VFA) in laboratory-scale continuously stirred tank reactors. The production of acetic, propionic, and butyric acids associated with simultaneous changes in hydraulic retention time (HRT) and temperature was investigated. Response surface methodology was successfully applied to approximate the responses of the VFA productions. The optimum physiological conditions where the maximum acetic and butyric acids production occurred were 2.4 days HRT at 34°C and 2.1 days HRT at 35°C, respectively. The propionic acid production linearly increased as both HRT and temperature increased.


1957 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 180-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. John ◽  
G. Barnett ◽  
R. L. Reid

1. The findings presented in two previous papers on the yields of volatile fatty acids, obtained by the action of rumen liquor in the artificial rumen, from fresh grass, dried grass and the water-soluble and water-insoluble separates of the latter, have been amplified by a consideration of the acids similarly obtained from specimens of chemically prepared crude fibre and cellulose, from four of the dried grass specimens.2. The proportions of different volatile fatty acids from grass crude fibre and grass cellulose resemble those obtained from cellulose powder, propionic acid being produced in greatest relative yield.3. A general review of these latter findings, in relation to those already presented, has been given.


1957 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. John ◽  
G. Barnett ◽  
R. L. Reid

1. A study has been made over two growing seasons of the volatile fatty acid production from ley grass obtained from a single area of one field, under the action of rumen liquor in vitro.2. The acida estimated were acetic, propionic, butyric, valeric and caproic. On only one occasion did the last named appear in measurable amount.3. The main acid produced in early stages of the year is acetic acid, but as the season advances propionic acid becomes the acid of major production.4. In parallel cellulose runs it was found that propionic acid was invariably produced in greater amount than any other acid.5. An attempt has been made to eliminate, by using cellulose as a standard, the effects of using different rumen liquor samples.6. The dried samples, corresponding to the fresh material, were invariably found to yield acetic acid in greater proportion than propionic acid. The average percentages of acids obtained from the dried grass were similar to those found by other workers. It is suggested that the variations between the fresh and dried grass results are due to changes in carbohydrate content resultant upon storage of the latter.


RSC Advances ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (62) ◽  
pp. 50033-50039 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xue Yang ◽  
Lei Wen ◽  
Xiang Liu ◽  
Si Chen ◽  
Yayi Wang ◽  
...  

Although many pretreatment methods are employed to enhance the hydrolysis of waste activated sludge (WAS), the bioconversion of soluble complex substrates needs improvement to produce higher volatile fatty acids (VFAs).


2014 ◽  
Vol 955-959 ◽  
pp. 527-531
Author(s):  
Jian Zheng Li ◽  
Yu Peng Zhang ◽  
Chong Liu ◽  
Ze Yu Tang

The activities of methanogen are easily affected by inhibitory substances and lead to anaerobic digestion failure. To investigate inhibitory effects on methanogenesis of a methanogen-enriched sludge, pH, volatile fatty acids (such as acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid), and ammonia were used as inhibitory factors and a L16(45) orthogonal table was employed to design batch experiments. The result of variance analyses shows that pH has the greatest impact on the methanogenesis of the enriched culture. The impact of butyrate, NH3, acetate and propionate was decreased in order. DGGE finger-print shows that there was only one methanogen in the inoculum sludge.


1982 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-135
Author(s):  
Liisa Syrjälä-Qvist

The criteria used in comparing the utilization of grass silage by reindeer and sheep were rumen pH, ammonia, volatile fatty acids (VFA) and microbes. Rumen samples were taken before feeding, and 2 ½ and 5 ½ hours after the beginning of feeding. Rumen fermentation was lower in the reindeer than in the sheep and differed less between the three sampling times. In the reindeer/the pH of the rumen fluid averaged 6.94 and in the sheep 6.61. The average amounts of NH3—N were 17.0 and 24.2 mg/100 ml rumen fluid and those of total VFA 8.46 and 10.90 mmoles/100ml rumen fluid, respectively. The proportion of acetic acid in the VFA in the reindeer was 75.3 molar % and in the sheep 66.0 molar %, the corresponding values for propionic acid being 18.5 and 22.0 molar % and for butytic acid 4.2 and 8.8 molar %. The number of rumen ciliates in the reindeer averaged 87/mm3 rumen contents and in the sheep 314/ mm3. The numbers of bacteria were 16.0 X 106/mm3, respectively. The proportion of the total microbe mass in the reindeer rumen contents was 1.8 % and in the sheep 2.4 %. The proportions of bacteria in this mass were 87 % and 70 %, respectively. The differences between the reindeer and sheep in the rumen fermentation results and in the numbers of rumen microbiota were nearly all statistically significant (P


1952 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. V. GRAY ◽  
A. F. PILGRIM ◽  
H. J. RODDA ◽  
R. A. WELLER

1. The mixture of volatile fatty acids in the rumen of the sheep has been shown to include formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, n-butyric acid, iso-butyric acid, n-valeric acid, another valeric acid isomer, caproic acid and an acid which is probably heptoic acid. The proportions in which they are present have been determined. 2. When acetic acid labelled with 14C in the carboxyl group was incorporated in the rumen fermentation in vitro, active carbon appeared later in all the higher acids. When labelled propionic acid was included in the fermentation, active carbon appeared in the valeric but not in the butyric acid. The results suggest a synthesis of the higher acids by condensation of the lower ones with 2-C compound in equilibrium with acetic acid. The extent of such syntheses and other possible modes of origin of the fatty acids are discussed.


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