botrytis <botrytis at mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.13af3ca1b8562801989685 at news.mindspring.com...
> In article <39454df0.338644647 at news.mindspring.com>, dh_ld at yahoo.com> says...
> > I was of the impression that all animals need a
> > bacteria in their system to be able to obtain any
> > nutrition from cellulose. A person in another ng
> > told me that is not true, that ruminants can and
> > do create their own enzyme called "cellulase"
> > which they use for that purpose, and that they
> > do not need any bacteria to help them at all.
> > Can anyone tell me what the truth is, and where
> > to learn more about it?
> >
> > Though I do respect ARAs and ethical veg*ns for doing
> > what they think is best, I do not believe either
> > approach is a good solution to problems with animal
> > welfare issues.
> >
> Actually, ruminants have bacteria in their systems that do create the
> cellulase enzymes (enzymes needed to degrade cellulose).
>
The ruminant digestive system is immensely complex - protozoa as well as
bacteria - which is why goats can digest anything from coal and broken glass
to old car parts.
GS
> David Slomczynski
