This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Wright, D. E. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Wright, D. E. Agricola Articles by Wright, D. E.

Next Article 

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1971 February; 21(2): 165-168
Copyright © 1971 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Citric Acid Metabolism in the Bovine Rumen

Ruakura Animal Research Station, Department of Agriculture, Hamilton, New Zealand

ABSTRACT

Rumen microorganisms rapidly metabolize citric acid to carbon dioxide and acetic acid. The rate of metabolism varied between 0.00008 and 0.76 µmoles per g per min, the rate becoming higher as the citric acid concentration increased. The addition of potassium chloride to rumen contents decreased the rate of utilization. The results indicate that dietary citric acid is unlikely to accumulate in the rumen to a sufficiently high level to be an important factor in hypomagnesemia, except where other factors such as very high potassium levels in the food influence its metabolism.