The in vitro cellulase technique was compared with the rumen liquor technique and found to be more efficient for the indexing of the dry matter disappearance (DMD) of forages. A cellulase enzyme concentration of 80 IU/gDM gave a satisfactory linear regression y = l,3585x + 11,6250 (R2 = 0,6453; P ≤ 0,01) for the estimation of in vitro digestibility (y) from cellulase dry matter disappearance (CDMD) (x). Using the modified laboratory procedure developed, two operators can analyse over 100 samples, in duplicate, each week. Over a period of 18 months the technique was used to index the digestibility of forages from a wide variety of rangeland sites in Natal.
Journal articles from the Grassland Society of Southern Africa (GSSA) African Journal of Range and Forage Science as well as related articles and reports from throughout the southern African region.