ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the transport of nitrogenous compounds by the ruminant gastrointestinal tract. It also focuses on the differences between monogastrics and ruminants. Amino acids are transported by intestinal epithelium by simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion, and active transport processes. Traditionally, the ruminant small intestine was not thought to have differed greatly from that of monogastrics. The neutralization of digesta in the ruminant small intestine is slower than that of nonruminants due to the lower bicarbonate content of ruminant pancreatic juice. While considering peptidases and peptides, it is appropriate to consider a specific peptidase called γ-glutamyl transferase. C. J. Sniffen and D. R. Jocobson used Holstein steers to show in vivo that at least the neutral and cationic transport systems are present in the bovine small intestine. F. Guerino and C. R. Baumrucker had the objective of identifying the specific transport systems responsible for the uptake of methionine and lysine in bovine small intestine.
