Protein digestion in ruminants

Although the protein requirement of domestic ruminants may be calculated from a simple one-compartment model, this approach ignores factors such as microbial fermentation in the rumen and the non-equality of feed proteins. By examining digestion in each of the functional compartments of the digestive tract of the ruminant, a model may be constructed of the complete process. In this review, we propose to show the essential role played by the development of suitable animal preparations in which protein digestion may be studied in detail, and the application of this data to the development of theoretical models. In order to do this, we intend to examine protein digestion in terms of the whole animal, fermentation in the rumen, hydrolysis and absorption from the small intestine. Finally we propose a new technique for examining the interaction between the small and large intestines.