Modifying Wood to Increase its In Vitro Digestibility3

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Abstract
Wood residues, of 70 to 80% carbohydate, are a potential source of dietary energy for ruminants. However, only a minor percentage of this carbohydrate can be utilized by rumen microflora without some form of pretreatment (Scott, Millett and Hajny, 1969). The high lignin content and the low cell contents (Van Soest, 1964, 1967) are believed to be the controlling factors. Delignification (Hvidsten, 1940; Edin, Helleday and Nordfeldt, 1941; Saarinen, Jensen and Alhojärvi, 1958) and saccharification (Forest Products Laboratory, 1960, 1964) provide highly digestible products, but they are too costly. Irradiation with high-energy electrons (Lawton et al., 1951), subdivision into micron-size particles (Virtanen and Koistenen, 1944; Virtanen and Nikkiläi, 1946; Pew, 1957; Pew and Weyna, 1962; Stranks, 1959; Dehority and Johnson, 1961), and steeping in dilute alkali (Saarinen et al., 1958; Stranks, 1961; Wilson and Pigden, 1964) provided enhanced utilization of wood or forage carbohydrate by bacteria, enzymes, or ruminants. This investigation was undertaken to more fully define optimum conditions of treatment and to establish the relative effectiveness of various treatments to increase the in vitro rumen digestibility of wood-residue carbohydrate. Copyright © 1970. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1970 by American Society of Animal Science

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