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Hindgut fermenters are evolved to eat a herbivorous diet. Such a diet includes large quantities of insoluble plant carbohydrates, such as cellulose. Mammals cannot digest these insoluble carbohydrates as they lack the essential enzymes, such as cellulase. However it is important that they do digest these carbohydrates as there is insufficient quantity of soluble carbohydrates in plant material. Some microbes do have the enzymes to digest these insoluble carbohydrates and so hindgut fermenters hold a symbiotic relationship with these microbes. Hindgut fermenters have anatomical adaptations to allow for an expanded microbial population. The products of fermentation are [[Volatile Fatty Acids|volatile fatty acids]]. It is important to supply a source of fibre in their diet as it stimulates [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peristalsis| peristalsis] in the gut and prevents a build up of gas.

Hindgut fermenters are evolved to eat a herbivorous diet. Such a diet includes large quantities of insoluble plant carbohydrates, such as cellulose. Mammals cannot digest these insoluble carbohydrates as they lack the essential enzymes, such as cellulase. However it is important that they do digest these carbohydrates as there is insufficient quantity of soluble carbohydrates in plant material. Some microbes do have the enzymes to digest these insoluble carbohydrates and so hindgut fermenters hold a symbiotic relationship with these microbes. Hindgut fermenters have anatomical adaptations to allow for an expanded microbial population. The products of fermentation are [[Volatile Fatty Acids|volatile fatty acids]]. It is important to supply a source of fibre in their diet as it stimulates [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peristalsis| peristalsis] in the gut and prevents a build up of gas.

===Cellulose Structure===

==Cellulose Structure==

[[Image:cellulose.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Cellulose - © RVC 2008]]

[[Image:cellulose.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Cellulose - © RVC 2008]]

Cellulose exists in the cell walls of plants. Mammals are unable to digest cellulose due it's structure. Cellulose is a polymer of glucose where each glucose monomer is joined to the next by a '''β-1,4 glycosidic bond'''. Mammalian enzymes only have the capability to break '''α-1,4 glycosidic bonds''', which are seen in starch and glycogen.

Cellulose exists in the cell walls of plants. Mammals are unable to digest cellulose due it's structure. Cellulose is a polymer of glucose where each glucose monomer is joined to the next by a '''β-1,4 glycosidic bond'''. Mammalian enzymes only have the capability to break '''α-1,4 glycosidic bonds''', which are seen in starch and glycogen.

===Comparison with [[Ruminant Stomach - Anatomy & Physiology|foregut fermenters]]===

==Comparison with [[Ruminant Stomach - Anatomy & Physiology|foregut fermenters]]==

Hindgut fermenters have an enlarged hindgut as opposed to foregut, as the [[Ruminant Stomach - Anatomy & Physiology|ruminants]] do, for microbial fermentation to take place. Hindgut fermentation provides advantages and disadvantages.

Hindgut fermenters have an enlarged hindgut as opposed to foregut, as the [[Ruminant Stomach - Anatomy & Physiology|ruminants]] do, for microbial fermentation to take place. Hindgut fermentation provides advantages and disadvantages.