Volatile Fatty Acid Concentrations and Proportions in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Full-Fed Beef Heifers

Samples from five sections of the gastrointestinal tract of 12 full-fed heifers were taken immediately after slaughter and frozen until prepared for VFA analyses. Proportions of acetic, propionic, and butyric acids in the rumen appeared to be normal. Substantial amounts of formic and lactic acids were found in the abomasum and small intestine along with acetic, propionic, and butyric acids. Slight quantities of formic and substantial amounts of lactic acids also were found in the caecum and colon. Millimoles of VFA/ 100 ml. of sample in the rumen, abomasum, small intestine, caecum, and colon were respectively, 11.902, 1.292, 1.943, 12.155, and 11.214.