What Most Affects Fiber Digestibility?

Ever wondered what influences the digestibility of fiber in dairy diets? Gonzalo Ferreira from Virginia Tech dives into the factors that play a pivotal role in determining fiber quality and its digestibility.

“The concentration of neutral detergent fiber, hereafter referred to as fiber or NDF, is the major determinant of the digestibility and energy concentration of a feed. According to the Lucas test of digestibility, all non-fibrous constituents are completely and uniformly digested, whereas fiber is incompletely and variably digested. In simpler terms, the digestibility of non-fiber components leans toward 100% in most circumstances, but the digestibility of the fiber depends on multiple factors. Because of this, the digestibility of fiber, also known as NDF digestibility or NDFD, is the second major determinant of energy concentration of a feed.”

To learn more: Read the full article by Gonzalo Ferreira with Hoard’s Dairyman