Volatile fatty acid production in the grey duiker, Sylvicapra grimmia

Volatile fatty acid production was studied in the rumen and caecum of culled grey duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia) and in the rumen of tame fistulated duikers. The caecum had a higher total VFA concentration and production rate per unit volume than the rumen but when considering total volume the caecum was only 14 - 17% of the rumen values. The energy obtained from ruminal VFA was calculated to satisfy 36,1% and 74,9% of the basal metabolic energy requirements of field animals in summer and winter respectively. The total hindgut contribution (caecum + colon) would amount to 19% in summer and 30% in winter emphasizing the importance of fibre fermentation in the hindgut.