Pelleting Good and Poor Quality Prairie Grasses at Different Temperatures and Pressures

Abstract

Physical or chemical changes caused by the pelleting process were shown to affect the digestibility of cellulose within range grasses. Pelleting first and third stages of western wheatgrass and little bluestem grasses caused a signficant (P<.05) increase in in vitro cellulose digestibility. Chemical changes in forage structure by pelleting were suggested by infra-red, X-ray diffraction and polymerization studies although no change in amount of cellulose, lignin, or protein was indicated. No increased benefit resulted from pelleting poor quality as compared to good quality western wheatgrass or little bluestem.