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A Pure-Culture Inoculum Method for Evaluation of Forage Cellulose Digestibility¹

Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana

Abstract

A microbiological method based on the use of B. succinogenes S85 as inoculum for evaluation of forage cellulose digestibility was developed. Factors such as age and concentration of inoculum and length of fermentation period were studied to determine the effect of these variables on cellulose digestion so that a standard method with high precision was obtained. Cellulose digestion values obtained by this technique were highly correlated with cellulose soluble in cupriethylene diamine, in vitro mixed-culture rumen cellulose digestion and in vivo dry matter and organic matter digestion. Correlations with Nutritive Value Index were highly significant for grasses but not for legumes.

The significance of this microbiological method is primarily in the reduction of within and between-trial variability for the laboratory evaluation of forages.

¹ Journal Paper No. 2477 of the Agricultural Experiment Station, Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana.

² Department of Biochemistry.

³ Department of Agronomy and Crops Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture.