Relationship of rumen degradability with microbial colonization, cell wall constituents and tannin levels in some tree leaves

Abstract
Rumen microbial attachment to food particles had a significant negative correlation with cell wall contents, cellulose and acid-detergent fibre (ADF) (P< 0·01) and a non-significant correlation with lignin, total phenolic content, condensed tannins and protein precipitation capacity. Microbial colonization was significantly positively correlated within saccodry-matter loss (DML) at 48 h of rumen incubation (P< 0·01). The cell wall contents and ADF were good predictors of DML. The relationship of DML (Y) with cell wall contents(X)and ADF(X')wereY= 1·012 – 0·0011Z,r= –0·89 (P< 0·01, no. = 10) andY= 0·977 – 0·0014X',r= –0·88 (P< 0·01, no. = 10), respectively.