Novel method for quantitating structural and non-structural carbohydrates in feedstuffs

摘要

A novel method of determining the portion of a given dairy cow feedstuff which is attributable to non-structural carbohydrates is disclosed. The method includes the steps of analytically determining the percentages of crude protein, lipid and ash in the dry matter concentration of a first feed sample, and in the neutral detergent fiber which has been separated from the soluble matter of a second sample of the same feed, and subtracting the amounts of crude protein, lipid and ash in the neutral detergent fiber from the respective amounts of the same substances in the original sample. The three difference figures are totaled and subtracted from the percentage of the second sample represented by neutral detergent solubles, i.e., 100 minus neutral detergent fiber, thereby providing an accurate indication of the percentage of non-structural carbohydrate in the feedstuff. The method is applied to both forages and grains, and is employed in the formulation of dairy cow rations wherein ration is adjusted to optimize milk production, the preferred percentage being from about 30% to about 45% depending on forage type.