Synthesis of Amino Acids in the Rumen

Abstract

In 1891 Zuntz (6) presented the view that bacteria in the rumen of animals utilize nonprotein nitrogenous compounds to form protein, which in turn was used by the animals. In recent years it has been conclusively shown that protein is formed in the rumen from dietary urea and ammonium salts. The protein thus formed appears to be of relatively low biological value (3-5) but, to our knowledge, no attempt has been made to measure the amino acid composition of protein synthesized in the