Digestion of Fresh Forage in Rumen Fluid1

Abstract This technique to evaluate digestion of fresh forage was developed as an additional tool for our forage breeding and evaluation programs. Leaf discs or segments were incubated in rumen fluid to assess the rate and progression of digestion of fresh forage samples. Digestion occurred at cut or broken surfaces as the cuticle formed a barrier to entry of rumen microflora. Differences in rate of digestion between species and between lines within a species were clearly apparent.