The use of the cellulase digestion procedure for indexing the dry matter digestibility of forages.

Abstract

The in vitro cellulase technique was compared with the rumen liquor technique and found to be more efficient for the indexing of the dry matter disappearance (DMD) of forages. A cellulase enzyme concentration of 80IU/gDM gave a satisfactory linear regression y = 1,3585x + 11,62540 (R2=0,6453; P<0,01) for the estimation of in vitro digestibility (y) from cellulase dry matter disappearance (CDMD)(x). Using the modified laboratory procedure developed, two operators can analyse over 100 samples, in duplicate, each week. Over a period of 18 months the technique was used to index the digestibility of foraged from a wide variety of rangeland sites in Natal.

Keywords: cellulase; Cellulase digestion; cellulase dry matter disappearance; Digestibility; Dry matter; dry matter digestibility; Dry matter disappearance; Enzymes; Forage quality; Forages; In vitro cellulase technique; in vitro digestibility; laboratory procedure; Laboratory procedures; natal; rangeland; Rumen liquor technique; south africa; technique

Journal of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa.