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Food comminution and energy yield
Project
Project code: 50643624
Contract period: 01.01.2007
- 31.12.2010
Purpose of research: Basic research
Specialised herbivores exist in diverse mammalian groups. They have in common the development of morphologically varying but functionally similar molars, which allow an efficient comminution of food and thus high daily energy intakes from roughage. The amount of feed consumed by mammals achieves its maximum during lactation, thus intensively stressing the masticatory apparatus. In this project, causal relationships between the evolution of the masticatory apparatus of herbivores, the chewing behaviour, the comminution of food, and the resulting energy yield will be quantified. Based on faecal particle size distribution, the capacity of food comminution by different herbivore species fed on similar diets can be estimated. For selected species the effect of lactation on degree of comminution of the diet will be quantified. By means of this data, the influence of comminution on potential energy yield - estimated from extent and rate of digestion - will be simulated in an in-vitro fermentation system for different groups of herbivores and during the course of lactation. In addition, the energy required for comminution of various roughages will be estimated.
Section overview
Subjects
- Animal nutrition
