1. Lignin Effects on Intake and Ruminal Digestion
OABP Spring Meeting
April 13 & 14, Guelph Ontario
Dr. Mike Brouk

2. Lignin – Enemy of Digestibility
Lower fiber digestibility
Increased retention time in rumen
Increased gut fill
Lower intake
Lower milk production
Reduced body condition score?
Reduced reproductive performance?

4. Van Soest Fiber Analysis
Ground forage material
Digest with neutral detergent solution
Neutral Detergent Solubles
( Cell Contents )
Neutral Detergent Insoluble Fiber (NDF)
Digest with acid detergent solution
Acid Detergent Solubles
Hemicellulose, cell wall N
Acid Detergent Insoluble Fiber (ADF)
Digest with sulfuric acid
Solubles ( Cellulose )
Acid Insoluble Lignin

5. Application of Fiber Analysis

6. NDF and Intake

8. Digestibility NDF Digestibility (NDFD)
30 or 48 hours of incubation in rumen fluid
Estimation based on lignin content
in vitro procedure
24, 30 or 48 hour

9. Influence of NDFD on TDN

10. Forage NDFD and DMI

11. Responses of Cattle 45% NDFD 50% NDFD 55% NDFD DMI, lb/d 45.1 48.6
51.3
NDF Intake, lb/d
18.7
19.0
21.6
Milk, lb/d
70.3
73.2
73.6

12. Grass Maturity and NDFD

13. Legume Maturity and NDFD

14. Corn Silage Maturity and NDFD

15. ---------------- % of DM ---------------
Corn Silage Composition and Maturity (Bal, et al JDS 80: )
Stage of Maturity ED
¼ ML
2/3 ML BL
% of DM
Moisture
69.9
67.6
64.9
58.0 CP
7.5
7.3
7.1
7.0
NDF
52.0
44.4
40.5
41.3
ADF
32.0
27.1
23.9
24.2
Lignin
3.3
2.8
2.9
2.7
Starch
18.2
28.7
37.2
37.4 15

16. Influence of Grain on NDF

17. ---------------- % of DM ---------------
Alfalfa Maturity
Stage of Maturity
Bud EB MB FB
% of DM CP
22-23
20-21
18-19
16-17
NDF
<40
40-45
45-59
>50
ADF
<30
30-35
35-40
>40
Lignin
3.0
3-4
4-5
>5

18. Reduced Lignin and Animal Performance
Normal Sorghum
BMR – 6 Sorghum
BMR – 18 Sorghum
Corn Silage
ADF, %
24.4
22.8
20.8
20.7
Lignin, %
6.14
5.38
5.11
5.12
DMI, kg
23.2
25.2
23.4
24.3
Milk, kg
31.0b
34.1a
32.2ab
33.8a
Oliver, et al. 2004

19. Lignin and Animal Performance
Normal Sorghum
BMR Sorghum
Alfalfa
Corn Silage
ADF, %
27.6
25.2
20.3
21.8
Lignin, %
6.4
5.2
4.7
3.3
DMI, kg
21.5
22.7
24.0
25.3
Milk, kg
21.5c
24.3b
25.2b
29.5a
Aydin, et al. 1999

20. Application of Lignin in Formulation
How does lignin impact fermentation?
What is the interaction between lignin and intake regulation?

21. Impact on Fermentation
Reduced digestibility
Increased retention time
Decreased intake
Normal Sorghum
BMR Sorghum
Alfalfa
Corn Silage
ADF Dig., %
32.02c
39.1b
40.3b
48.5a
Aydin, et al. 1999

22. Control of Feed Intake Dry Cow – Transition Early to Peak Lactation
Mobilization of body fat - NEFA
Fermentability of the diet
Early to Peak Lactation
Distension
Post Peak
Plasma insulin concentration
Tissue sensitivity to insulin

23. Potential of Lignin to Influence Animal Performance
Early Lactation
Digestibility
Intake – Gut Fill
Post Peak

24. Challenges to Using Lignin in Formulation
Methods of testing
Within lab variation
Between lab variation
Normal Sorghum
BMR – 6 Sorghum
BMR – 18 Sorghum
Corn Silage
ADL, %
2.78
2.54
2.63
2.62
KMnO4,%
6.14
5.38
5.11
5.12
Oliver, et al. 2004

25. Challenges to Using Lignin in Formulation
Grouping of animals
Single Lactation TMR’s
Lack of data on specific groups
Identification of first limiting factor of production or efficiency

26. Challenges to Using Lignin in Formulation
Source of lignin
Cottonseed hulls
By-product feeds
Lack of specific recommendations

27. Current Application in Formulation
Experimental
Limited in practical application due to on farm practices and measurements

28. Research Needs Interaction of lignin with regulation of intake
Stages of production
Group specific performance data

29. Summary Lignin can influence intake and digestibility
Lignin can influence productivity and efficiency of production
Limited recommendations for TMRs at this time
Variable results in the field
Many variables involved