Composition of Crude Fiber in Certain Roughages

Abstract

The lignin and cellulose contents of the dry matter of 11 roughages have been determined. These included two legume hays, five grass hays, oat straw, and oat silage made from plants harvested at the boot, milk, and dough stages of growth. The cellulose content of the grass hays and Korean lespedeza hay was higher than that of alfalfa hay. The lignin content of the roughages was quite variable, probably due to differences in stage of growth of the plants when harvested. The cellulose content of the crude fiber was much higher in the grass hays than in the legume hays. The lignin content in the crude fiber of the legume hays was greater than in the grass hays. The findings of earlier workers, that the composition of crude fiber varied as between species, have been confirmed. It has been shown that in the oat plant the crude fiber make-up is dependent on the stage of growth. © 1958, American Dairy Science Association. All rights reserved.