In Situ Cattle Rumen Degradability of Urea-Molasses and Cellulase Treated Rice Straw

Abstract

In situ (nylon bag) technique was used to investigate the effects of BIOTECH-Cellulase from Trichoderma reesei RUT-C40 on rumen degradability of rice straw in the study. Three mature rumen cannulated steers were used. Complete Randomized Design (CRD) was used to evaluate the effect of four treatments in steers. Dietary treatments were used in the study as; Untreated rice straw (UTRS); Urea and molasses treated rice straw (5% urea + 5% molasses) (UMTRS); Urea, molasses and cellulase treated rice straw 5% urea + 5% molasses + 2.5% BIOTECH-Cellulase from Trichoderma reesei RUT-C40 (UMCTRS) and 2.5% BIOTECH-Cellulase treated rice straw (CTRS). All treatments had similar (P>0.05) degradation of DM and NDF of untreated and treated rice straw. The increasing degradability of the rice straw treated with BIOTECH-Cellulase as observed in both the UMCTRS and CTRS, incubated for 72h suggested that the enzyme can still improve the utilization of the feed such that longer incubation would degrade rice straw significantly better than those without cellulase. Thus, there is very big potential on the use of BIOTECH-Cellulase in producing a more cost effective and higher quality rice straw as feed for ruminants.