Chemical composition of some forages and various residues from feeding value determinations

NDF, ADF, ‘cellulose’ and IVOMD residues, from feeding value determinations, were prepared from some forages, including straw, alkali-treated straw, grass and lucerne samples. The crude protein, cellulose, hemicellulose, uronic acid, Klason lignin, lignin and ash contents of these residues and the corresponding original forage samples were determined together with the relative composition of the neutral sugar constituents after acid hydrolysis. Cellulose, hemicellulose and Klason lignin were the main components in the NDF fractions but substantial amounts of crude protein (1–6%) also remained. Cellulose and Klason lignin were the main components in the ADF fractions, but 7–14% of the fractions was hemicellulose and 1–4% crude protein. Cellulose was the main component in the ‘cellulose’ fractions, but they also contained 8–13% hemicellulose, 2–7% Klason lignin and 2–11% ash. The composition of the IVOMD residues showed that cellulose and hemicellulose had been dissolved to about the same amounts (70–80%) and that most of the Klason lignin remained.