Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for increasing digestibility and/or crude protein of a plant by modifying lignin biosynthesis of the plant. The methods involve the manipulation of the expression level of genes in the lignin biosynthesis pathway by directly reducing the expression of genes using miRNA or using regulation of transcription factors. Expression cassettes for achieving such gene expression manipulation and transgenic plant cells and plants comprising the constructs and cassettes are also provided. Transcription regulating nucleotide sequences for use in the expression cassettes have also been developed as well as methods of using these sequences and cassettes.