Ester- and ether-linked phenolic acids in orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) and their digestion from cell walls when fed to sheep

Abstract

Ester- and ether-linked p-coumaric (PCA) and ferulic acids (FA) in cell wall materials from orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), hays harvested at the heading stage and feces samples from sheep fed the orchardgrass hays were analyzed. Results showed that ether-linked PCA and FA were more resistant to ruminant digestion and enzymatic degradation than ester-linked PCA and FA. Key words: p-coumaric acid, esters, ethers, ferulic acid, orchardgrass, sheep digestion