Enzymatic Evaluation of Processes for Improving Agricultural Wastes for Ruminant Feeds

Abstract

A convenient enzymatic procedure has been developed which is designed to predict in vivo dry matter digestibility of forages and crop residues. The procedure involves digestion of the forage with a crude cellulose enzyme followed by a protease digestion. The procedure does not require the close proximity of a ruminant animal. Enzymatic solubilization of 29 forages was highly correlated (r=.900) with in vivo dry matter digestibility. Correlations were higher within species than among species. The procedure appears to predict dry matter digestibility with sufficient precision to be of use to laboratories with no access to donor ruminant animals. Copyright © 1971. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1971 by American Society of Animal Science.