Ruminal Fermentation

Health & Life Sciences Dictionary
The anaerobic, microbially mediated breakdown of ingested feed occurring within the rumen chamber of ruminant animals; microbial consortia hydrolyse complex plant carbohydrates and other substrates to produce volatile fatty acids (energy sources for the host), microbial biomass (microbial protein), gases (CO2, CH4) and fermentation by-products that together support host nutrition and influence rum