Fibre is a species-dependent value, not a defect
For broilers and young pigs, fibre dilutes energy and can depress performance. For ruminants and adult sows, structural fibre supports rumen function and satiety. The same specification is a constraint in one diet and a benefit in another.
Why crude fibre understates reality
The crude fibre method dissolves part of the hemicellulose and lignin, so it recovers only a fraction of true dietary fibre. Where fibre drives the formulation decision, specify NDF and ADF instead of, or in addition to, crude fibre.
Typical industrial reference values
| Dehulled soybean meal | 3–4% CF | Hulls removed |
| Standard soybean meal | 6–7% CF | |
| Sunflower meal | 12–24% CF | Dehulling degree dominates |
| Wheat bran | 10–12% CF | High NDF, used for structure |
Indicative industry reference values for orientation only — always contract against the delivered lot.
What to verify
- —Which fibre method the certificate reports
- —Dehulling degree for oilseed meals
- —NDF/ADF where the diet is ruminant or high-fibre monogastric
Typical risks
- —Energy dilution beyond the formulation assumption
- —Pellet quality and throughput changes
- —Inconsistent hull inclusion between shipments
Common mistakes
- —Treating crude fibre and NDF as interchangeable
- —Setting a single fibre maximum across species with different requirements
Frequently asked questions
Should I specify crude fibre or NDF?
Specify crude fibre for a simple commercial guardrail and NDF/ADF when fibre is nutritionally decisive — ruminant diets, high-fibre sow diets, or any formulation where structure is being purchased deliberately.
Related topics
Digestibility expresses the proportion of a nutrient the animal can actually absorb; it converts an analytical composition into a nutritional value.
Energy values are calculated or measured estimates of the usable energy an ingredient delivers to a specific species; they are matrix values, not analytical certificates.
Particle size distribution governs mixing homogeneity, pellet quality, digestive efficiency and segregation risk, and is specified as a geometric mean diameter with a distribution, not a single sieve figure.
Build a structured RFQ with the parameters, tolerances and verification steps written in — free for buyers.
Start your RFQTechnical parameter names and analytical method references are kept in English because they are quoted verbatim in contracts, certificates and international standards.
Educational reference. FeedMatch Group does not rank, recommend or endorse manufacturers.
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