Digestible cell wall and undigested cellular contents of two grasses of low net energy value for growing cattle

Abstract

SUMMARYIn two grasses of low net energy value for growth and fattening of cattle, digestible cell-wall values were close to 40% of forage organic matter (OM), similar to the expected value for grass. A value of 14% of forage OM for apparently undigested cellular contents in both grasses was just outside the range of values for grass. The data supported previous evidence that total cell wall is the only value that can be used at present to define grass in terms of its digestible dry matter.