Cellulose Digestion

[Voltman]

Out of curiosity, why do sheep need bacteria in their gut to break down cellulose from their diet, but pigs, who also consume plant material, do not?

[BA22]

Pigs have a limited capacity to break down plant material, such as fibre and hay. They can break down some cellulose, as they do in fact contain bacteria producing cellulase, just as sheep do. The difference is merely that pigs do not have alot of this bacteria