Digestibility depends on two steps: the rate at which feed particles are broken down by microbes, and the residence time of digesta in the digestive tract. Short-cut optimizes both.

6-12mm chop maximizes exposed fiber area so rumen microbes attach and degrade cellulose faster; meanwhile faster digesta passage reduces undigested loss in the hindgut.

The result is an overall rise in neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility, which is the fundamental reason short-cut feed has higher energy value.