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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center » Cell Wall Biology and Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #429182
Research Project: Identifying and Developing Strategies to Enhance Sustainability and Efficiency in Dairy Forage Production Systems

Location: Cell Wall Biology and Utilization Research

Title: Building a better wall: Polysaccharides as a target to improve alfalfa digestibility

Author
item FANELLI, AMANDA - Orise Fellow
item Sullivan, Michael

Submitted to: Forage Focus
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/3/2025
Publication Date: 12/15/2025
Citation: Fanelli, A., Sullivan, M.L. 2025. Building a better wall: Polysaccharides as a target to improve alfalfa digestibility. Forage Focus. December 2025:14-15.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Although alfalfa is sometimes called the “Queen of Forages” due to its high protein content, ability to fix nitrogen, and benefits to soil health, poor digestibility of stems can limit its value as an energy source in ruminant diets. Lignin, a complex organic polymer present in plant cell walls, limits cell wall breakdown and fermentation in the rumen and so has been a major focus of research to improve alfalfa digestibility. However, cell wall polysaccharide composition can also influence digestibility. Here, we describe our research to reduce the cell wall content of xylans, which are poorly digested cell wall polysaccharides, and boost the content of pectins, which are readily digested cell wall polysaccharides.