Lignin Composition of Chemically Treated Feeds as Determined by Nitrobenzene Oxidation and Its Relationship to Digestibility

Abstract

The composition of lignin in chemically treated feeds and its relationship to feed digestibility were investigated for corn stover, peanut hulls, rice hulls, and wheat straw, each treated with various amounts of sodium chlorite, hydrogen peroxide, or peroxyacetic acid. As determined by nitrobenzene oxidation, the composition of lignin in treated feeds was drastically altered in all except peanut hulls. Lignin composition and digestibility of treated feeds were generally related to feed and level of reagent but not to the specific reagent used, although in some instances widely different results were obtained between reagents. When analyzed across treatments by feeds, the relationships of lignin composition and digestibility were feed specific.