EFFECT OF ALKALI AND (OR) STEAM TREATMENT OF WHEAT-STRAW OR CELLULASEAUGMENTED CONCENTRATE MIXTURE ON RUMEN FERMENTATION IN GOATS

Four diets; untreated wheat straw plus concentrate mixture (CS), sodiu m hydroxide (5%, w/w) treated straw plus concentrate mixture (CA), sod ium hydroxide (5%, w/w) and steam pressure (1 kg, cm(-2), 1 h) treated straw plus concentrate mixture (GAS), and untreated straw plus cellul ase augmented concentrate mixture (CES), were offered to goats to meas ure intake and ruminal parameters. The rumen fluids withdrawn at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 h post feeding were analysed for pH, TVFA and its fract ions as well as nitrogen fractions. The consumption of treated straw i n CA or CAS groups was increased (P<0.01) over untreated straw. Simila rly the total dry matter intake per day, per 100 kg body weight or per kg W-0.75 was higher (P<0.01) in CAS than in other groups. The rumina l pH was higher (P<0.01) in CA groups but lower (P<0.01), in CAS than in other groups, while TVFA concentration remained higher (P<0.01) in both CA or CAS diets compared with CS or CES diets. The fractional VFA remained similar amongst treatment groups. However, NPN, NH3-N and so luble-N were lower (P<0.01) in CA or CAS groups than in others. Total- N and protein-N content remained similar amongst treatments. It is con cluded that alkali plus steam treatment of wheat straw was the best me thod to improve the rumen fermentation process and enhance the availab ility of energy from native straw.