ROLE OF LACTATE AS AN INTERMEDIATE OF FATTY ACID FERMENTATION IN THE SHEEP RUMEN

Fresh rumen contents of sheep, taken at various periods after feeding, were incubated with sodium DL-lactate [2-14C] and the turnover rate of the acid was estimated. The radioactivities of consumed lactate were predominantly found in acetate in most cases, but also in propionate when the pool size of lactate was large. By comparing the rate of fatty acid production via lactate with the rate of individual fatty acid production determined simultaneously, the contribution of lactate as an intermediate in fatty acid production was calculated. Under certain conditions, 40% of acetate and 32% of propionate were formed via lactate when the animal was fed on hay and concentrated feed.