A GROUP OF BACTERIA CLOSELY RELATED TO LACTOBACILLI BUT CHARACTERIZED BY PRODUCTION OF PROPIONIC ACID AND ACETIC ACID IN FERMENTATION OF CARBOHYDRATES AND POLYHYDRIC ALCOHOLS IS KNOWN AS PROPIONIC ACID BACTERIA (PAB) ORPROPIONIBACTERIA. Propionibactcria are natural inhabitants of the rumen that make up 1.4 per cent of ruminal microflora and produce propionate, a major precursor for glucose production through hepatic gluconeogenesis. Glucose is essential for milk synthesis. Direct feeding of propionibactcria may be a natural way to increase hepatic glucose production and positively influence the metabolism. The propionate is helpful for fatty acid synthesis in milk fat. Many high producing dairy cows are unable to consume enough feed to meet the energy demands of lactation resulting in a state of negative energy balance (EB). The propionibactcria is a good source of energy supplementation through glucose production. Feeding propionibacteria replaces pathogenic bacteria in rumen.
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