Abstract
The effects of different feeding ratios of concentrate (C) and roughage (R) on balance of long chain fatty acids and microbial fatty acids in the rumen of sheep were investigated. The diets were divided into 8:2 (concentrate feeding), 4:6 (middle mixture) and 0:10 (roughage feeding) ratios (C:R). Duodenal digesta was collected through 24 hours after feeding. Biohydrogenation rate, total duodenal flow of fatty acids and microbial fatty acids were measured. Total duodenal flow of fatty acids was significantly (p<0.05) increased with increasing concentrate. Total duodenal flow of fatty acid was greater than intake of fatty acid in all diets. In comparison with intake of each fatty acid, duodenal flow of stearic acid ($C_{18:0}$) remarkably increased in all diets. Biohydrogenation rate for total C18 unsaturated fatty acids in the rumen tended to increase (p<0.10) when sheep were fed the middle mixture. In particular, biohydrogenation rate of linoleic acid ($C_{18:2}$) and linolenic acid ($C_{18:3}$) with the middle mixture were highest (p<0.05) compared with other diets. Duodenal flow of protozoal fatty acids was significantly (p<0.05) increased with the increased supply of concentrate. That of bacterial fatty acids was significantly (p<0.05) increased with both concentrate diets compared with the roughage feeding diet. $C_{18:0}$ occupied the greater part of both protozoal and bacterial fatty acids in all treatments. Results indicated that biohydrogenation of free unsaturated fatty acids was actively carried out when the middle mixture diet was supplied, and that microbial uptake and synthesis of fatty acids were accelerated by adding the supply of concentrate.