The carotene content of dried grass

Abstract

1. Losses in carotene from fresh grass have been studied during the operations of wilting and drying and from bales of dried grass and dried grass meal during storage.2. With good management wilting and drying need cause only 15–20% reduction in the carotene content of the fresh grass. In fine, sunny weather field wilting is likely to cause serious loss, and the period of wilting should not exceed 2–3 hr.3. Production of dried grass meal by efficiently run commercial driers is unlikely to cause more than 5–10% loss in carotene content, whereas during storage for 6 months 30–40% of the carotene initially present in the dried product may be lost, depending on the temperature.4. Exposure of the dried grass to sunlight quickly bleaches it, but carotene losses due to photochemical action will be confined to a thin surface layer.