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PART 2.
Protein metabolism in the large
intestine of monogastric animals.
Vilhen protein is ingested by the nonogastric animal
it is subjected to digestion in, basically, two steps. ïn
the first step, protein is subjected to h¡rdrolysís by the
proteolytic enzymes that are secreted by the stomach and
smal1 intestine. The second step consists of fernentation
of undigested protein by the mícro-organisms of the large
intestine.
A very 1ow level of bacterial activity is found
ie the stomach, duodenum and jejumum. Beginning wíth the
distal part. of the ileum important activity can be detected.
Bacterj.al activíty reaches its maximum in the caecu¡n and
decreases fron there to the end of the large intestine
(l,arson and Hill , 1960; inlichel 1961 , 1966).
Protein, both of exogeneous and endogeneous nature,
lhat is not digested. by the end of the srnall intestine v¡ill
either -be excreted Ín the faeces or subjected to fernentation.
Protein digestion by the rnicro-organi sms is brought about by
extracellular enzynes through peptides of decreasing lengt,h
to free amino acids to ammonia and short-chain fatty acids.
Not necessarily all the free an¡ino acids prociuced will be
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