Publication Date

1997

Description

The objective of this study was to contribute some quantitative information regarding the proportion of cell types and the thickness of cell walls in different plant parts of three major forage species, lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and maize (Zea mays L.). All plant parts examined contained a significant proportion of cell types with walls which appeared too thick to be completely degraded during the time which plant particles are likely to spend in the rumen; this applied particularly to lucerne stems and maize leaf blades.

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Anatomy of Forage Plant Parts in Relation to Digestion

The objective of this study was to contribute some quantitative information regarding the proportion of cell types and the thickness of cell walls in different plant parts of three major forage species, lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and maize (Zea mays L.). All plant parts examined contained a significant proportion of cell types with walls which appeared too thick to be completely degraded during the time which plant particles are likely to spend in the rumen; this applied particularly to lucerne stems and maize leaf blades.