Carbohydrate and lignin contents of plant materials used in animal feeding

A total of 115 samples representing 38 different feedstuffs was analysed for carbohydrates and lignin. The samples were analysed for low-molecular weight (LMW) sugars by high-performance liquid chromatography, starch, fructan and mixed Linked beta(1 --> 3;1 --> 4)-D-glucan by colorimetry, total, soluble and insoluble non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) by gas-liquid chromatography and lignin by gravimetry. For all but alfalfa meal, almost quantitative recovery of carbohydrates and lignin was obtained with a deviation between calculated and analysed values of less than 2 g kg(-1) dry matter. The correlation between calculated and analysed values was 0.985 (P < 0.0001). The concentration (g kg(-1) dry matter) of LMW-sugars varied from 5 g kg(-1) and up to 137 g kg(-1) with the lowest values found in cereal substitutes, whole grain cereals and by-products while the protein concentrates in general had the highest content of LMW-sugars (57-137 g kg(-1)). Starch was the main polysaccharide in whole grain cereals where it varied from 468 g kg(-1) in oats to 690 g kg(-1) in maize, in cereal by-products (93-902 g kg(-1))and in tapioca (768 g kg(-1)). In contrast, the concentration of starch was low in all protein concentrates but peas and faba beans. The lowest levels of NSP and lignin were found in maize flour (NSP, 21 g kg(-1) lignin, 4 g kg(-1)) and the highest levels in oat hull meal (NSP, 503 g kg(-1); lignin, 148 g kg(-1)). There was also a significant variation in NSP and lignin in protein concentrates with the NSP value varying from 189 g kg(-1) in faba beans to 451 g kg(-1) in white lupins and with lignin varying from 12 g kg-l in white lupins to 133 g kg(-1) in sunflower cake. Grass meal, alfalfa meal and sugar beet fibre had in general high concentrations of NSP and lignin with values in grass and alfalfa meals of NSP: 329-426 g kg(-1) and lignin: 128-169 g kg(-1) and in sugar beet fibre 779 g kg(-1) and 35 g kg(-1), respectively. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.