The major polysaccharides of NSP are cellulose, pectins, -glucans, pentosans and xylans.
None of these are -glucan, and cannot be hydrolysed by any endogenous enzymes
of non-ruminant animals. There is general agreement that a major proportion of dietary
NSP leave the small intestine nearly intact, and is fermented in the large intestine (caecum
and colon) by the commensal microflora. NSP are generally defined as water (or weak
alkali solution) soluble or insoluble. Plants generally contain a mixture of both soluble and
insoluble NSP in a ratio that varies according to the type and stage of maturity