After 3 and 9 wks, fungal colonized OPF were dried at 60 ◦C for 96 h. Samples were weighed after drying to determine
the DM loss (original DM basis) due to WRF treatment. The NDF (Van Soest, 1963), acid detergent fiber (ADF), cellulose and
permanganate lignin (lignin(pm)) were determined on starter materials according to Van Soest and Wine (1968) without
using sodium sulphite (Na2SO3) and heat stable -amylase in the NDF analysis. The NDF and ADF values are expressed
inclusive of residual ash. Nitrogen content was determined according to a Kjeldahl method (Lynch and Barbano, 1999).