The bacterial protein is in turn utilized by the cow in a manner similar to that of dietary protein. As stated, crude protein is the most common and dependable test of total protein. Unfortunately, crude protein gives no measure of rumen degradable and non-degradable protein. A quick, economical and dependable laboratory test to determine rumen degradable or rumen non-degradable protein is not currently available. Alfalfa baled and stored with too much moisture can undergo considerable heating.
High temperatures result in some protein binding to fiber fractions and becoming indigestible.
As stated earlier, fiber analysis is important in establishing intake potential, digestibility and predicting energy levels. Fiber is the structural component of plant cell walls and consists primarily of cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin and lignin. Nutritionally, fiber is the slow digesting component of feed that occupies space in the rumen and thereby influences feed passage rate. Pectin is the most digestible part of plant cell walls and is not part of the fraction measured in current methods of fiber analysis. However, feeds high in pectin are good sources of highly digestible fiber.