The in vivo digestibility of soyabean integuments, rape integuments and dehydrated beet pulp was determined in sheep in the Centre de Recherches de Clermont-Ferrand-Theix, in 1985. Organic matter digestibility was 83·5, 59·6 and 85·0%, respectively, for the three feeds. The nylon bag method was used to determine the disappearance of dry matter (DM) in the rumen. After 72 h, 89 and 96% DM had disappeared for soyabean integuments and beet pulp, respectively, but only 61% for rape integuments. The DM disappearance rate was slowest (P < 0·05) for soyabean integuments. Microscopic examination showed that the different layers of the soyabean integument could be ranked in increasing order of resistance to microbial degradation as follows: parenchyma, aleurone layer, column cell layer, palisade layer and epidermis. The hilum area was the most resistant and the only one lignified. The cell layers of the rape integument could be ranked in increasing order of resistance as follows: epidermis, aleurone layer and palisade layer. The last was highly lignified and not degradable. Degradation of beet pulp was fast, occurring first in the parenchyma. The vessels resisted degradation but were only a small part of the feed. This study shows why beet pulp has a low fill value and allows high intake. The soyabean integument is very digestible and is degraded slowly, whereas almost half of the rape integument is made up of a cell layer that is not degradable.