Digestion of lipids in the reticulo-rumen

Lipids for ruminant animals are basically three types

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

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

❖ Phospholipids, feeds like soybean has high amount 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 hydrolysed into fatty acids and glycerol with phosphate attached.
• After this secondary type of reaction takes places, 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 rather goes down to the lower tract being attached with feed particles or associated
• protozoa or bacteria.
• This will enter small intestine where it is digested by enzyme of host and absorbed.