PROTEIN ENHANCEMENT OF SUGAR-BEET PULP BY FERMENTATION AND ESTIMATIONOF PROTEIN DEGRADABILITY IN THE RUMEN OF SHEEP

Sugar beet pulp (SEP) previously heated at 110 degrees C for 30 min wa s fermented with the cellulolytic fungi of Trichoderma reesei on a sem isolid substrate (moisture level 80.0%-85.0%), for 3 and 5 days. Trich oderma reesei was chosen owing to its high bioconversion rate in micro bial protein and high degradation of cellulose and hemicellulose. Prot ein degradability of the fermented sugar beet pulp (FSBP) was estimate d in the rumen of sheep using the in situ nylon bag technique. Effecti ve protein degradability of FSBP supplements was higher compared with the unfermented sugar beet pulp (USBP), (70% versus 40% of total N) bu t not significantly different between the 3 and 5 day FSBP supplements . Fermentation of SEP enhanced its nutritive value by increasing its p rotein content and it can be a potentially good source of dietary prot ein for feeding of ruminants. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.