Effect Of Sodium Hydroxide Treatment Research Articles

The effect of sodium hydroxide treatment on the chemical composition, digestibility and digestible energy content of wheat, barley and oat straws

Changes in digestible energy (DE) and digestibility in vivo of 10 samples of wheat, barley and oat straw following farm-scale treatment with sodium hydroxide (45 kg NaOH t −1 dry matter (DM)) were studied using sheep. A range of laboratory measurements were also examined for their relationship with digestible organic matter in the dry matter (DOMD) and DE content measured in vivo. These laboratory methods included three estimates of digestibility in vitro, two methods using cellulase and the other using rumen fluid. NaOH treatment reduced the hemicellulose content of the DM ( P < 0.001) and this resulted in an increased content of cellulose and lignin in the remaining cell wall. The mean increases in DOMD, coefficient of organic matter digestibility (OMD) and DE contents in vivo were 161 g kg −1, 0.213 and 2.42 MJ kg −1 DM, respectively, although these varied considerably. No significant differences between the straw species were apparent as a result of upgrading and there appeared to be no effect of initial nutritive value of the straw on the degree of response to treatment. No laboratory measurement was found to be an accurate predictor of DOMD in vivo or of DE content.

Alkali-Treated Forage for Early Lactation Dairy Cows: Effect on Lactation Performance and Nutrient Digestibility

Our objective was to determine the effect of sodium hydroxide treatment (4g NaOH/100g forage DM) of an alfalfa-orchardgrass forage and its subsequent utilization by early lactation dairy cows. Forage was harvested as hay. Complete mixed diets consisted of 55% control or treated hay and 45% concentrate (DM basis) and were fed to eight early lactation Holstein cows in a crossover design. Chemical composition of hays and complete diets were similar. Intake of dry matter was greater when cows were fed treated hay (23.4 vs. 22.2 kg/d), as was milk yield (32.3 vs. 30.9 kg/d). Yield of 4% FCM, however, did not differ between diets (27.8 vs. 27.4 kg/d). Cows fed the treated hay diet had increased concentrations of total rumen volatile fatty acids and ruminal acetate, decreased ruminal isobutyrate concentration and pH, and increased apparent digestibility of NDF, ADF, hemicellulose, and lignin. Sodium hydroxide treatment also increased the proportion of potentially digestible DM and NDF compared with that of untreated forage. Alkali treatment improved the utilization of medium quality forage in the early lactation dairy cow.

Effect of sodium hydroxide treatment of desert grass on carbohydrate digestibility by goats

Six male Nubian goats housed indoors in separate pens were fed on homra, a local desert grass ( Aristidia adsensconis L.), or sodium hydroxide (NaOH) treated homra (4 g NaOH 100 g homra). The nitrogen content of the homra used was 0.82%, giving an approximate crude protein content of 5.1%. The soluble carbohydrate content was 45 g kg −1 compared to 20 g kg −1 after alkali treatment. The hexosan and pentosan contents of the structural carbohydrate were similar for both treated and untreated grass. NaOH treatment caused a significant ( P<0.05) increase in dry matter (DM) intake; 425 g/day compared with 377 g/day. The digestibility coefficient for alkali-treated homra was 0.690 and for untreated homra was 0.668. The difference was not statistically significant ( P<0.05). There was a highly significant ( P<0.01) decrease in soluble carbohydrate intake and digestibility of NaOH-treated grass. There was a significant ( P<0.05) increase in structural carbohydrate intake but not in its digestibility ( P<0.05) with alkali treatment.

Effect of sodium hydroxide treatment and/or extrusion cooking on the nutritive value of peanut hulls

Sodium hydroxide treatment and/or extrusion cooking of peanut hulls was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The hulls were treated with 0, 30, 40, 50 or 60 g of NaOH kg −1. As the level of NaOH increased a linear reduction in neutral detergent fibre ( P<0.01) and increase in dry matter digestibility in vitro ( P<0.01) was observed. Digestibility in vitro was doubled by treatment with 50 or 60 g NaOH kg −1. Attempts to extrude the alkali treated hulls alone were unsuccessful because of high fibre and low density. Two complete diets were formulated with 40% peanut hulls untreated or treated with 50 g alkali kg −1. Half of each of these diets was extruded in a S-40 L cooker extruder. The four complete diets were evaluated in a 4 × 4 latin square experiment using Nellore ram lambs. Alkali treatment significantly increased ( P<0.01) hemicellulose digestibility and reduced ( P<0.05) ether extract (EE) digestibility. Extrusion cooking lowered hemicellulose ( P<0.01), crude protein (CP) ( P<0.05) and EE ( P<0.01) digestibility. Alkali treatment or extrusion cooking did not affect digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude fibre, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre and cellulose. Alkali treatment increased ( P<0.01) water consumption, urine output and urine pH. Extrusion cooking decreased ( P<0.01) water consumption as well as urine output. Although there was a substantial increase in the in vitro dry matter digestibility of peanut hulls with 50 g NaOH kg −1, alkali treatment or extrusion cooking did not improve nutrient digestibility in lambs given complete diets containing 40% of peanut hulls.

The Effect of Sodium Hydroxide Treatment of Fescue-Corn Stillage Diets on Intake, Digestibility and Performance with Lambs

One laboratory silo trial, two lamb digestion trials and one lamb growth trial were conducted to determine the feeding value of diets containing NaOH-treated tall fescue hay and corn whole stillage. Lamb trials were conducted at ad libitum intakes. Untreated or 4% NaOH-treated fescue was ensiled with 0, 15, 30 or 60% stillage in a fermentation study. After 20 d of fermentation, silages treated with NaOH had higher (P<.05) pH, butyrate and acetate, and lower (P<.05) lactate and crude protein than untreated silages. Average pH was 7.4 for NaOH-treated silages compared with 5.0 for untreated silages. Lactate and crude protein increased linearly (P<.05) with level of stillage. Butyric acid was highest for silage containing 60% stillage and NaOH-treated fescue. When the same silages were evaluated in a digestion trial, NaOH-treatment increased (P<,05) dry matter intake (916 vs 747 g/d) and dry matter digestibility (63 vs 56.2%) compared with untreated silages. Both intake and digestibility increased linearly (P<.05) with level of stillage. Level of NaOH (0, 2, 4 or 6%) and direct ensiling or mixing of ingredients at time of feeding were evaluated in a digestion study with diets containing 30% stillage. Dry matter intake and digestibility were not affected (P>.05) by method of feeding. Two or four percent NaOH addition increased intake more than 0 or 6% NaOH (P<.05, quadratic). Neutral detergent fiber digestibility was greater for 2% NaOH-treated fescue mixed with stillage at feeding (60.4%) compared with the corresponding ensiled diet (46.7%) suggesting a neutralization of NaOH during ensiling. In a lamb growth trial, lambs fed an ensiled 4% NaOH-treated fescue plus 30% stillage diet consumed more dry matter, but had similar gains and feed efficiency compared with lambs fed untreated fescue plus stillage or corn silage diets.

Effects of Sodium Hydroxide Treatment on Nutritive Value of Screened Manure Solids Fed to Dairy Cattle

This trial was to identify an effective method of increasing the nutritive value of screened manure solids by treatment with sodium hydroxide and to evaluate the effectiveness of this treatment. Treatments were applied in a 5×3 factorial design with five percentages of sodium hydroxide and three storage times. Treatment was followed by fiber analysis and in vitro digestibility determination. Based on this information three rations were formulated to contain 22% of screened manure solids either untreated, treated to contain 7% sodium hydroxide and fed immediately, or treated to contain 7% sodium hydroxide and stored 7 days prior to feeding. Chemical composition, intake, and digestibility of these complete rations were measured in a trial of 12 nonlactating, nonpregnant Holstein cows. Treatment reduced the hemicellulose content of the screened manure solids and increased digestibility of crude fiber and cellulose in the complete rations. Storage of treated material depressed digestibility of crude protein and soluble carbohydrate. Intake of organic matter was not different among the three rations. Untreated screened manure solids can be used successfully in complete rations for dairy cattle, but treatment with sodium hydroxide does not appear to be justified.

Effect of sodium hydroxide treatment on chemical composition and in vitro and in vivo digestibility of hay

The effect of NaOH spray treatment on hay digestibility was studied by in vitro and in vivo methods. Four hay types were compared: untreated long or shredded hay and shredded hay treated with 3% and 6% NaOH. In vitro digestibility was measured by three methods: the Tilley and Terry procedure, a one-stage nylon bag technique (rumen digestibility only), and a two-stage nylon bag technique (rumen digestion + pepsin - HCl digestion). In vivo digestibility was estimated on eight young bulls given the four hay types at two levels according to a 2 x 2 latin square. In vitro and in vivodigestibilities of dry matter, organic matter and crude fiber were increased by the NaOH treatment. Both in vitro and in vivo techniques revealed the existence of an optimum NaOH concentration which in our experiments was close to the 3% treatment.

Effect of Sodium Hydroxide Treatment of Sorghum Silage on Lactation of Cows and on In Vitro Digestion

About 40 t of chopped sorghum forage (silage variety) was treated with 4% (by weight dry) sodium hydroxide at ensiling in a plastic bag. Another 40 t of the forage was ensiled without treatment in the same bag. Early in fermentation pH was higher in treated forage, but by day 21 pH was about 4.0, and amounts of acid were similar in treated and control silage. In a feeding trial eight cows receiving treated silage after 6-wk ensiling produced 21.2kg milk with 2.83% fat; eight cows fed control silage produced 19.9kg milk containing 2.77% fat. Mean in vitro dry matter disappearance was 58.8 and 52.1% for weekly samples of treated and control silage. Freeze-dried samples of both treated and control silages were treated with an additional 4% sodium hydroxide and 1% nitrogen from urea (by weight dry) in a 2×2 factorial arrangement. Laboratory treatment with alkali increased in vitro dry matter disappearance of dried sorghum silage and interacted significantly with nitrogen supplementation. Apparently treatment of wet sorghum forage with 4% dry sodium hydroxide produced a satisfactory feed but did not achieve maximum improvement in in vitro dry matter disappearance of the silage.

Investigations of the treatment of sawdust for rabbit feeding. 1. Effect of sodium hydroxide treatment

A total of one hundred and eighty-four New Zealand White rabbits were used in three separate experiments: to establish the concentration of sodium hydroxide solution needed to improve the nutritive quality of sawdust for rabbit feeding; to investigate whether there is any difference between the nutritive quality of hardwood- or softwood-sawdust when treated with optimum sodium hydroxide solution; and to study the extent to which NaOH-treated sawdust can be substituted for the conventional feeds in rabbit diets. Food consumption was significantly ( P < 0.05) greater in rabbits given diets containing sawdust treated with 6% solutions of NaOH, than with sawdust treated with 0–3% solutions. Rabbits given sawdust treated with 4 or 5% NaOH showed significantly ( P < 0.05) better rate of gain and efficiency of feed utilization than those given sawdust treated with 0 or 1% sodium hydroxide solutions, and also grew slightly, but non-significantly, faster than those fed on sawdust treated with 3 and 6% NaOH. Alkali treatment of sawdust increased carcass yield. Hardwood-responded better than softwood-sawdust to alkali treatment, and a higher concentration of alkali may be required for the latter. Rabbits may tolerate and efficiently utilize up to 15% of treated sawdust without any reduction in performance. Beyond this level, there was a significant ( P < 0.05) decrease in the rate of gain, feed/gain ratio and carcass yield.

Effect of Sodium Hydroxide Treatment on Rate of Passage and Rate of Ruminal Fiber Digestion

Ruminally fistulated lambs were used to measure the effect of sodium hydroxide treatment on rate of passage and rate of ruminal fiber digestion. Corncobs were raised to 60% moisture and treated to a final concentration of 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0% NaOH on a dry matter basis. The diets fed contained 80% cobs and 20% supplement, giving a complete mixed diet containing 0, 2.0, 4.0, 6.0 and 8.0% NaOH (dry basis). Chromic oxide was used as an external marker, and rumen samples were collected at 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 96 hr post-dosing. As level of NaOH treatment increased, rate of passage increased linearly (P less than .05). Mean ruminal retention time decreased from 32.4 hr for the control diet to 20.7 hr for the 8% NaOH diet. When rate of passage was regressed against NaOH level, the slope of the line was .142%/hr per unit NaOH, with r2 = .733. In another trial, sodium concentrations equal to the 4% NaOH diet were obtained by the addition of 7.3% NaCl to the basal diet. Rates of passage for lambs fed the diet containing NaCl were faster (P less than .05) than for lambs fed the control diet but slower (P less than .05) than for lambs on the 4% NaOH diet. These data suggest that both sodium intake and NaOH treatment affect rate of passage and are additive. Nylon bags containing .15 g cotton were used to measure the rate of ruminal fiber digestion in lambs fed the five NaOH-treated diets. Bags were removed from the rumen after 12, 24, 36 and 48 hr, and the loss in weight were used to estimate ruminal digestion. As level of NaOH increased, the rate of ruminal cotton digestion decreased linearly (P less than .05). When rate of cotton digestion was regressed against NaOH level, the slope of the line was -.488%/hr per unit NaOH, with r2 = .934.

Effect of sodium hydroxide treatment of orange pulp digestibility

Effect of sodium hydroxide treatment of orange pulp digestibility

Utilization of piggery waste III. Effects of sodium hydroxide treatment of pig faeces on chemical composition, microscopic physical characteristics, and in vitro and in vivo digestibility

Four experiments are described in which pig faeces were treated with sodium hydroxide using equal weights of alkali solution and dry faeces. In Experiment 1, levels of 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12 and 15 g NaOH/100 g dry matter (DM) were compared. Increasing amounts of sodium hydroxide caused marked reductions in the concentration of neutral detergent fibre and smaller decreases in the concentrations of acid detergent fibre and lignin. Untreated faeces had an in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) of 31%; with treatment the IVOMD increased almost linearly to 49% at 7 g NaOH/100 g DM beyond which there was no significant increase. In Experiment 2, faeces treated with 7 g NaOH/100 g DM were left to react for 1, 4, 6, 9, 12 and 14 days. The IVOMD showed little change for the first 3 or 4 days then increased steeply until approximately day 8 after which there was no further significant increase. In Experiment 3, faeces treated with 0 and 7 g NaOH/100 g DM were examined by means of a scanning electron microscope and a photo-microscope. The sodium hydroxide treatment caused obvious structural disintegration and the removal of the smooth cuticle layer of the fibres. Phloroglucin staining indicated a dispersion of lignin in the tissues. In Experiment 4, sheep were fed on diets of hay and 30% untreated faeces or 30% faeces treated with 7 g NaOH/100 g DM. The organic matter digestibility of the faeces (calculated by difference) was increased from 29 to 47% due to the increased digestibility of the fibre components, particularly hemicellulose (33 to 90%); the crude protein digestibility fell from 48 to 31%. The sheep receiving the treated diet consumed more water and had a greater urinary output which effectively excreted most of the additional sodium. Liveweight changes were in favour of the diet containing the treated faeces.