J. Anim Sci.
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J. Anim Sci. 1969. 29:11-15.
© 1969 American Society of Animal Science
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Comparative Study of the Digestibility of Forage Cellulose and Hemicellulose in Ruminants and Nonruminants1

J. E. Keys, Jr.2, P. J. Van Soest and E. P. Young

U. S. Department of Agricultuure3 and University of Maryland,4

Abstract

Digestion trials were conducted with ruminants and nonruminants to compare their capacities to digest fiber in alfalfa, brome and orchardgrass hays. These hays were fed at the 100% level to the ruminants and at 50% of the diet to nonruminants.

The results of this experiment indicate that ruminants digest cell walls, hemicellulose, cellulose and dry matter from grass to a greater extent than from alfalfa. Swine fed at a restricted level digested the cell walls and hemicellulose from grass to a greater extent than from alfalfa. The dry matter in the diet containing alfalfa was more digestible than the dry matter of those diets containing grass. The cellulose digestibilities were comparable in the diets containing alfalfa and grass. Rats fed ad libitum digested cell walls, hemicellulose, cellulose and dry matter from alfalfa to a greater extent than they did of these components from the grasses. Hemicellulose was considerably more digestible than cellulose in the rat.

Footnotes

1 The authors wish to express their appreciation to Mr. Arthur M. Hartman for the use of rats and metabolism cages used in the rat digestion trials.

2 Data taken from a thesis submitted by the senior author in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Master of Science Degree from the University of Maryland.

3 Agricultural Research Service, Animal Husbandry Research Division, Beltsville, Maryland 20705.

4 Department of Animal Science, College Park, Maryland.






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Copyright © 1969 by the American Society of Animal Science.