Microbial digestion of hemicelluloses in the rumen.

The ruminant animal is dependent upon anaerobic microorganisms for the digestion of plant materials in the rumen. The resultant microbial cells and fermentation acids are primary nutrients for the animal. Polysaccharides, such as hemicelluloses, are only partially degraded because of the chemical complexities of plant materials and biochemical processes involved in degradation.