ADF
ADF (acid detergent fibre) refers to the portion of cell wall substances in feed crops that cannot be dissolved in acidic solution in the laboratory. ADF is determined using the extended Weender analysis.
ADF therefore comprises all poorly digestible and indigestible cell wall carbohydrates: celluloses, lignin (woody substance) and lignin-nitrogen compounds. Although not all fibre fractions are digestible by the horse or its gut microbes (e.g. lignins are largely indigestible), they are important for gut motility and gut health.