Vitamin hemicelluloses

Cauliflower has a very high waste index (Kulkami et ah, 2001) and is an excellent source of protein (16.1%), cellulose (16%), and hemicellulose (8%) (Wadhwa et ah, 2006). It is considered as a rich source of dietary fiber and it possess both antioxidant and anticarcinogenic properties. Phenolic compounds and vitamin C are the major antioxidants of brassica vegetables, due to their high content and high antioxidant activity (Podsedek, 2007). Lipid-soluble antioxidants (carotenoids and vitamin E) are responsible for up to 20% of the brassica total antioxidant activity. The level of nonstarch polysaccharide (NPS) in the upper cauliflower stem is similar to that of the floret and both are rich in pectic polysaccharides, while the cauliflower lower stem is rich in NPS due mainly to cellulose and xylan deposition (Femenia et ah, 1998). 

Palatability Trials. Two to five sheep were placed in a pen containing a feeder with four movable compartments. The compartments were numbered and their positions randomized each day. Two feeds were compared in each pen. Each day a known amount of feed was placed in each compartment and the position was determined at random. Twenty-four hours later the refusals were removed, weighed, and fresh feed added. A normal test period was seven days. The first trial was designed to determine the relative palatability of hemicellulose and molasses. The basal ration consisted of timothy hay, 68% com, 28.16% 44% CP soybean oil meal, 2.31% urea, 0.77% dicalcuim phosphate, 0.26% salt, iodized, 0.50% and vitamin A and D concentrate to meet NRC requirements. Other rations were prepared by removing com and increasing the soybean meal and adding 5% dry matter from cane molasses, LHC, dried molasses, or dried LHC. 

However, grasses contain a much wider variety of components that do most tree species. In addition to cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, grasses often contain 10% or more of protein, in addition to minerals, starch, simple sugars, vitamins and other components. The wider variety of components in grasses versus woody plants offers the potential for producing additional valuable products, but may also complicate the processing required. 

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