Use of Detergents in Analysis of Fibrous Feeds. III. Study of Effects of Heating and Drying on Yield of Fiber and Lignin in Forages

Abstract

Heat-drying of forages at temperatures above 50°C shows analytically significant increases in yield of lignin and fiber. The increased yield of acid-detergent fiber (ADF) can be accounted for largely by the production of artifact lignin via the non-enzymic browning reaction. Values for ADF and lignin in dried forages can be corrected on the basis of the nitrogen content of the ADF. The nitrogen content of the ADF is suggested as a sensitive assay for nonenzymic browning due to overheating of feeds.