The demand for livestock products is expected to increase 2.4 times by the year 2000. Improved production from traditional feed sources, as well as increased use of alternative feeds will be necessary. Crop residues have the potential to meet the additional feed demands of ruminants if their feed quality can be improved to meet nutrient requirements for growth, gestation, and lactation. Chemical treatment of residues improves feed quality but requires increased management and inputs. The objective of this review was to evaluate the potential of the natural variation among crop residues in digestibility and nutrient content. Variation was found to exist among crops, harvest maturity, plant fractions, and cultivars. Stovers tend to be higher quality than straws. Harvesting residues that have greater cell soluble and lower cell wall contents improve residue feed quality. Substantial variation was found to exist among cultivars or hybrids of the same crop. Proper selection of crop, plant fraction, harvest maturity, or cultivar can result in a 10 percentage unit improvement in feed quality with essentially no additional capital or energy input. The existing natural variation among residues was found to represent an opportunity to improve feed quality without chemical treatment. Increased emphasis on nonchemical improvement of residue quality is needed in research and education programs.
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Bartle et al. (1988) studied this question.
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