Forage digestibility

Forage digestibility refers to how easily animals, like cows or sheep, can break down and absorb nutrients from plants they eat. It depends on the plant's fiber content and structure; more digestible forage has less fiber and is more readily broken down in the animal’s digestive system. High digestibility means the animal gets more nutrients from less food, improving health and productivity. Factors affecting digestibility include plant species, maturity at harvest, and processing methods. Assessing forage digestibility is important for optimizing animal nutrition, growth, and milk or meat production.