Determination of digestibility of almond hull in sheep

A study was conducted to determine the chemical composition and digestibility of almond hull using in vitro, sacco and vivo methods. Chemical compositions of almond hull and alfalfa hay were determined. The crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) of almond hull were lower than those of alfalfa hay but the non fibrous carbohydrate (NFC) was more than that of alfalfa hay (3.5 times) (P < 0.01). The dry matter disappearance of almond hull for all incubation times using in sacco method was greater than that of alfalfa hay (P < 0.01). To measure in vivo digestibility, four mature Moghani sheep of live weight (39 ± 3 kg mean±SD) were used in a 2 × 2 change over design. Diets consisted of a basal diet (alfalfa hay) and a mixed diet (alfalfa hay 70% + almond hull 30%). Invitro and vivo dry matter digestibilities of almond hull were 585.8 and 645.0 gkg-1, respectively. There was no difference between in vivo dry and organic matter digestibility of alfalfa hay and mixed diet but were significantly affected in the case of CP and NDF (P < 0.01). In general, almond hull had low CP but greater NFC content as well as greater digestibility in sheep.Key words: Almond hull, by-product, chemical composition, digestibility, in vivo

Effect of Trichoderma spp. inoculation on the chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of wheat straw

To evaluate the cultural ability of some Trichoderma isolates on wheat straw and the influence of their exogenous enzyme activities on chemical compositions as well as in vitro digestibility and upgrading of the nutritive value of lignocellulolytic materials, sterilized and non sterilized wheat straw were inoculated with Trichoderma isolates (including Trichoderma harzianum isolate T447, T. hamatum isolate T 614, T. hamatum isolate T625 and T. harzianum isolate T 969). The experimental design usedin this study was complete randomized design (CRD) through factorial experiment with 2 factors (factor A = effects of sterilization, factor B = effects of Trichoderma spp.) in three replicates for each treatment. Effects of the Trichoderma isolates on the substrate neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and pH as well as in vitro dry matter (DM) digestibility (IVDMD), in vitro organic matter (OM) digestibility (IVOMD) and in vitro digestible OM in DM (IVDOMD) were analyzed. The obtained results showed that sterilization of wheat straw could decrease pH, NDF and ADF (P<0.05) but not IVDMD, IVOMD and IVDOMD. The isolates of T447 and T969 showed higher ability in improving the nutritive value of wheat straw. Comparatively, higher reduction in pH was recorded by T614 inoculatingsterilized wheat straw. The least NDF content were observed in treated non-sterilized wheat straw with T447, also treated sterilized wheat straw with T447 showed maximum reduction in NDF content. Moreover, higher change in IVDMD, IVOMD and IVDOMD were obtained by T447 grown in sterilized wheat straw substrate

Effect of fungal treatment on chemical composition and in vitro ruminal digestibility of some agricultural residues

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Trichoderma harzianum isolate T.447 (T.447) on the chemical composition and in vitro ruminal digestibility of treated maize, wheat, rapeseed and soybean straws. Preparation of each straw was divided into two equal parts and was treated with a suspension of T.447 spore or an equal volume of distilled water (control). Treated straws were placed in closed plastic bags and were incubated in a growth chamber at 25±1°C for 45 days. In vitro ruminal digestibility was determined after incubating the samples in buffered rumen fluid for 48 h using ANKOM Daisy II Incubator. For all data, a completely randomized design with a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement was used. The experimental factors were straw type at 4 levels (maize, wheat, rapeseed and soybean) and fungus application at 2 levels (T.447 and control). These findings show that crude protein, ether extract, ash, organic matter and cellulose, statistically, differed (P < 0.05) from straw type and fungus application. In vitro ruminal dry matter digestibility (IVRDMD), in vitro ruminal organic matter digestibility (IVROMD) and in vitro ruminal digestible organic matter in dry matter (IVRDOMD) differed significantly from straw type (P < 0.001) and fungus application (P < 0.05). The crude protein and ash concentrations increased (P < 0.05) in fungal-treated straws. The ether extract, organic matter, cellulose and in vitro ruminal digestibility values decreased (P < 0.05) in fungal-treated samples. These results obtained showed that the fungus has been active on the straws and had some desirable effects, such as enhancement of crude protein and undesirable effects, such as decrement of ether extract, organic matter and in vitro ruminal digestibility

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Abstract A study was conducted to determine chemical composition and in situ ruminal degradability of almond hulls in comparison with alfalfa hay (AF). Almond hulls represented two varieties for which the common names are stone shell (SS) and paper shell (PS) and a commercial mixture (CM). The crude protein (CP) of AF was higher (P<0.05) than any of the almond hulls. For almond hulls CP was lowest (P<0.05) for PS at 21.8 g kg -1 dry matter (DM). PS was lowest and highest (P<0.05) in neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC) (347.0 and 544.6 g kg -1 DM, respectively). These contents were in contrast to AF, which was highest and lowest (P<0.05) in NDF and NFC (585.9 and 144.6 g kg -1 DM, respectively). The rapidly degradable DM fraction was highest (P<0.05) for PS, but this value was lowest (P<0.05) for AF. PS had a lower (P<0.05) slowly degradable DM fraction compared with the CM, SS and AF, but this value was highest (P<0.05) for AF. There was no difference (P>0.05) in the slowly degradable NDF fraction among AF, CM and PS but it was greatest (P<0.05) for SS. Almond hulls have high potential degradability of DM and degradability index value of DM compared to AF. SS and PS had a higher effective degradability (ED) of DM compared with AF. AF and SS had a higher ED of NDF compared with AF and PS. Results showed that almond hulls as a horticultural by-product have a medium nutritive value and can be used as a feedstuff for ruminants

WFL Publisher Science and Technology Chemical composition and digestibility of urea-treated triticale (x Triticosecale) straw

Abstract A study was conducted to investigate changes in chemical composition and digestibility of urea-treated triticale straw. Triticale straw (TS) was chopped into pieces, approximately 2 cm in length. In Experiment 1, Solution of urea was applied to 1000 g dry matter (DM) of chopped TS at rate of 4.0% (w/w). The urea was applied as aqueous solution which added 1500 g of water/1000 g of TS DM. Urea-treated TS in laboratorial scale (TSL) was thoroughly mixed, stored in plastic containers and kept for 45 days at ambient temperature (20-25°C). Chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of TSL was determined and compared with TS and alfalfa hay (AH). The amount of total nitrogen (TN) and crude protein (CP) increased (P<0.05), but neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) decreased (P<0.05) when TS was treated with urea. AH had the highest (P<0.05) in vitro digestibility, but this value was lowest for TS. The TN, CP, NDF, ADF and in vitro digestibility of TSL were intermediate (P<0.05) to AH and TS. In Experiment 2, solution of urea was applied to 200 kg DM of chopped TS at a rate of 4.0% (w/w). The urea was applied as aqueous solution which added 300 kg of water/200 kg of TS DM. Urea-treated TS in farm scale (TSF) was thoroughly mixed, stored in plastic drums and kept for 45 days at ambient temperature (10-25°C). An in vivo digestibility experiment was done using four mature Moghani wether sheep. TSF had a higher (P<0.05) DM digestibility (DMD) and organic matter (OM) digestibility (OMD) values, compared with TS. However, TSF had greater digestible OM in the DM (DOMD), and metabolizable energy values, compared with TS, but these differences were not significant. Results showed that urea can improve chemical composition and digestibility values of TS