Abstract
The effect of the addition of exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (mainly xylanase and cellulase activities, 15 ml/15 kg of fresh forage), on intake, total tract digestibility and nylon bag degradability of a chopped fresh Digitaria decumbens grass was studied at 2 stages of regrowth ( 21 and 56-day old grasses). Moreover, comparisons between ground and chopped grass were done using the nylon bag degradability method. DM intake (g/kg BW 0.75 ) and organic matter total tract digestibility for control and enzyme treatments respectively were 69.1 vs. 65.9 (p>0.05) and 0.723 vs. 0.727 (p>0.05) with the 21-day old regrowth. Based on the same parameters, values for the 56-day old grass were 58.1 vs. 52.7 (p>0.05) and 0.621 vs. 0.591 (p>0.05). Nylon bag degradation at 24 h of the dry matter for control versus enzyme treatments were 0.653 vs. 0.70 (p 0.05). The positive impact of exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (EFE) on degradability of the young and ground pangola grass may suggest that in some cases, enzyme accessibility to potentially digestible cell wall is a limiting factor in their digestion.
Highlights
Tropical grasses are often characterised as low quality forages when compared to temperate ones because of their low intake and digestibility (Minson, 1990)
Some researchers have shown that the use of exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (EFE) can enhance fibre degradation, in vitro (Forwood et al, 1990; Varel et al, 1993; Feng et al, 1996; Hristov et al, 1996) and in situ (Lewis et al, 1996; Baah et al, 2005)
The 56-day old grasses were characterised by lower nitrogen and higher fiber contents as compared with the 21-day old grasses
Summary
Tropical grasses are often characterised as low quality forages when compared to temperate ones because of their low intake and digestibility (Minson, 1990). Research into technology aiming at increasing digestibility and intake of tropical grass is a challenge. Some researchers have shown that the use of exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (EFE) can enhance fibre degradation, in vitro (Forwood et al, 1990; Varel et al, 1993; Feng et al, 1996; Hristov et al, 1996) and in situ (Lewis et al, 1996; Baah et al, 2005). While some authors (Beauchemin et al, 1999; Yang et al, 1999) have confirmed these results in vivo, others authors (Firkins et al, 1990; Varel and Kreikemeier, 1994; Kung et al, 2000) have found the opposite result.
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