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Influence of Hemicellulose A and B on Cellulose Digestion, Volatile Fatty Acid Production and Forage Nutritive Evaluation^1,2,

Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana

Forages were delignified with chlorous acid and holocellulose, -cellulose and hemicellulose A and B fractions were isolated and studied in an artificial rumen system to determine the influence of individual components on the microbial digestion of cellulose and the nutritive value of forages. Forage delignification, resulting in the holocellulose fraction, always increased the amount of cellulose digested. Further removal of hemicellulose A and B increased the amount of cellulose digested in the resulting -cellulose in most instances as much as 100%. The increased digestibility of cellulose in -cellulose over holocellulose was attributed to the removal of hemicellulose A and B. Addition of hemicellulose B reduced cellulose digestion in the forage, holocellulose, or -cellulose depending on the level added. Digestibility of cellulose in forages, holocellulose or -cellulose was reduced to zero by an equal weight of hemicellulose B. Hemicellulose B addition was always accompanied by an increased VFA production and an increased molar ratio of propionate with corresponding reduction in acetate, the magnitude depending upon the level added. Hemicellulose A and B produced similar effects. Comparison of cellulose digestibility of forage, holocellulose and -cellulose with equal cellulose level in all treatments, resulted in 41, 55 and 75% digested, respectively, with alfalfa and 25, 44 and 71% digested, respectively, with the reed canarygrass. The hemicellulose B content of reed canarygrass was approximately 3 times higher than alfalfa. Other constituents were similar.

² This study was supported in part from NC-64 Regional Project, Laboratory Methods for Estimating Forage Quality, and State Chemist Funds.

^3,4,5,6 Departments of Biochemistry, Animal Sciences, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, and Agronomy, respectively.

Manuscript received 17 August 1964.