In vitro estimation of rumen fermentable organic matter using enzymes

Abstract

The amount of rumen fermentable organic matter (FOM) can be calculated using tables, taking into account the amount of digestible organic matter, the content of fat and fermentation products, and the amount of starch and protein escaping rumen fermentation, or FOM can be calculated using in situ incubations. An in vitro method is described to predict FOM using amylase and other carbohydrate degrading enzymes. FOM estimated by the enzymic method showed a moderate correlation (Rsuperscript 2 = 0.71) with FOM estimated by the in situ method. The relationship could be improved by separating the high crude fibre samples (Rsuperscript 2 = 0.88) from the other samples (Rsuperscript 2 = 0.77). Because degradation rates with the enzymic method were high compared with the assumed rumen passage rates, it proved that FOM could be predicted with a similar accuracy (Rsuperscript 2 = 0.76 - 0.80) by the undegraded fraction after 24 h.