Cows, horses, sheep, goats, and termites have bacteria living inside their intestinal tract. These bacteria can break down cellulose that is in grass and other plants.
Ruminant animals have 4 stomachs but the microbed don't produce cellulose, they break it down.
Cellulose in grass can be broken down by ruminant animals such as cows, sheep, and goats that have specialized stomachs with microbes that produce enzymes to digest cellulose. The microbes ferment the cellulose into simpler compounds that the animal can absorb and use for energy. Humans, however, cannot digest cellulose as efficiently due to the lack of these specialized enzymes.
Cellulose is good for microbes because it is a complex carbohydrate that serves as a source of energy and carbon for many microorganisms. Microbes that can break down cellulose, such as cellulolytic bacteria and fungi, play a crucial role in recycling organic matter and nutrient cycling in ecosystems. The ability to degrade cellulose allows these microbes to thrive in environments rich in plant material.
glucose can't be absorbed from cellulose,as its a polymer,so cellulose is more stable compound,,if u can get the bacteria which is found in cow's stomach gut, u can converte your cellulose to glucose.
Cellulose is broken down by enzymes called cellulases, which are produced by some microbes and fungi. These enzymes break down the cellulose into its component sugars, such as glucose, which can then be used as an energy source by the organism.
Decomposers
Microbes are single celled living things too small to see. All higher life forms depend to some extent on microbes. Microbes are what turn milk into yogurt, and may be found there. They cause bread to rise. They may be found in bread dough. They are used to make sauerkraut, kimchee and certain other kinds of pickles, and can be found there. Microbes are at the base of the food chain. They are eaten by tiny animals that are, in turn, eaten by larger animals. Microbes are important in composting and putting nitrogen into the soil. There are many kinds of beneficial microbes in the soil. Cows and horses and many other kinds of plant eating animals have microbes in their stomachs and intestines. These microbes break down cellulose, which is what the cell walls of the plants the eat are made of. Without these microbes, the cows and horses would die. In fact, we could guess that all animals with intestines have microbes in them. We could go on. And on. and on.
HUmans haven't got the digestion system needed to break down cellulose into nutrients. Animals, with longer intestines can.
The human body lacks the enzyme needed to break down cellulose, called cellulase. Cellulase is produced by certain microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, and protozoans, which help them digest cellulose in their diet. Since humans do not produce cellulase, we cannot directly break down cellulose for energy.
It does contain some nutrients, but due to our inability to break down cellulose, it is not beneficial to us.
Yes, lactase can definitely break down cellulose. In fact, when the lactase works to break down the cellulose, it breaks the cellulose down into two different monomers.
Horses break down cellulose by use of enzyme cellulase.