The Rates of Digestion of the Cellulose of Some Plant Fractions by Rumen Microorganisms in vitro

Abstract

The rates of digestion of the celluloses of a number of plant materials were compared by incubating various fractions with strained fluid from bovine rumen ingesta. Holocelluloses and "[alpha]-celluloses" prepared from roughages were more rapidly and completely digested than the original plant materials. Addition of hemicelluloses from alfalfa, corn cobs, or soybean hulls did not increase the slow initial rate of cellulose digestion.