Resistance of Fatty Acyl Amides to Degradation and Hydrogenation by Ruminal Microorganisms

¹ Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences Department, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0361

Two in vitro trials were conducted to determine whether fatty acyl amides are degraded and hydrogenated by ruminal microorganisms. The treatments consisted of ground hay supplemented with either no lipid, linoleoyl Met ethyl ester, or free linoleic acid plus Met ethyl ester. Incubations were carried out in Erlenmeyer flasks at 39°C under CO₂. Cultures were sampled at predetermined times and analyzed for long-chain fatty acids, Met, and VFA. In trial 1, the rate of disappearance of linoleic acid was lower for the amide than for the FFA (.004 and –.047/h, respectively). In trial 2, there were no differences in the rate of disappearance of linoleic acid from 0 to 6 h (–.237 and –.357/h for amide and FFA, respectively), but the rates from 6 to 48 h (–.003 and –.027/h for amide and FFA, respectively) were different. Linoleoyl Met cultures also had higher acetate to propionate ratio and lower loss of Met compared with free linoleic acid cultures. There was no loss of radioactivity from [¹⁴C]stearoyl Met after 24 h of incubation, indicating its resistance to bacterial breakdown. The results showed that fatty acyl amides resist bacterial breakdown and prevent loss of double bonds by microbial biohydrogenation.

Key Words: fatty acids • fatty acyl amides • biohydrogenation • ruminal microorganisms

Submitted on October 31, 1991
Accepted on January 27, 1992