Neutral Detergent Fiber
Encyclopedia
Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) is the most common measure of fiber used for animal
feed analysis, but it does not represent a unique class of chemical compounds. NDF measures most of the structural components in plant cells (i.e. lignin
, hemicellulose
and cellulose
), but not pectin
. http://www.caf.wvu.edu/~forage/5012.htm
Recent nutritional requirement tables of ruminants report limits for NDF intake.
The level of NDF in the animal ration influences the intake of dry matter and the time of rumination
, although the concentration of NDF in feeds is negatively correlated with energy concentration.
Animal
Animals are a major group of multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life. Most animals are motile, meaning they can move spontaneously and...
feed analysis, but it does not represent a unique class of chemical compounds. NDF measures most of the structural components in plant cells (i.e. lignin
Lignin
Lignin or lignen is a complex chemical compound most commonly derived from wood, and an integral part of the secondary cell walls of plants and some algae. The term was introduced in 1819 by de Candolle and is derived from the Latin word lignum, meaning wood...
, hemicellulose
Hemicellulose
A hemicellulose is any of several heteropolymers , such as arabinoxylans, present along with cellulose in almost all plant cell walls. While cellulose is crystalline, strong, and resistant to hydrolysis, hemicellulose has a random, amorphous structure with little strength...
and cellulose
Cellulose
Cellulose is an organic compound with the formula , a polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of several hundred to over ten thousand β linked D-glucose units....
), but not pectin
Pectin
Pectin is a structural heteropolysaccharide contained in the primary cell walls of terrestrial plants. It was first isolated and described in 1825 by Henri Braconnot...
. http://www.caf.wvu.edu/~forage/5012.htm
Recent nutritional requirement tables of ruminants report limits for NDF intake.
The level of NDF in the animal ration influences the intake of dry matter and the time of rumination
Rumination
The term rumination , meaning "to chew the cud," is used in several contexts:-Digestive rumination:* In animals, rumination is a part of normal digestion, in which the animal brings up swallowed food , chews it, and swallows it...
, although the concentration of NDF in feeds is negatively correlated with energy concentration.