Sodium Hydroxide-treated Straw Research Articles

Importance of cellulase cocktails favoring hydrolysis of cellulose

ABSTRACTDepolymerization of lignocellulosic biomass is catalyzed by groups of enzymes whose action is influenced by substrate features and the composition of cellulase preparation. Cellulases contain a mixture of variety of enzymes, whose proportions dictate the saccharification of biomass. In the current study, four cellulase preparation varying in their composition were used to hydrolyze two types of alkali-treated biomass (aqueous ammonia-treated rice straw and sodium hydroxide-treated rice straw) to study the effect on catalytic rate, saccharification yields, and sugar release profile. We found that substrate features affected the extent of saccharification but had minimal effect on the sugar release pattern. In addition, complete hydrolysis to glucose was observed with enzyme preparation having at least a cellobiase units (CBU)/carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) ratio (>0.15), while a modified enzyme ratio can be used for oligosaccharide synthesis. Thus, cellulase preparation with defined ratios of the three main enzymes can improve the saccharification which is of utmost importance in defining the success of lignocellulose-based economies.

The effect of fishmeal supplementation of a straw-based diet on growth and calorimetric efficiency of growth in heifers

Thirty-two 160 kg dairy heifers were used to measure the effects of increasing dietary protein content on growth and heat production. A basal diet containing (g/kg) 550 sodium hydroxide-treated straw, 220 barley, 220 sugarbeet pulp and 10 urea was offered with 0, 76 and 152 g fishmeal/kg dry matter of the basal diet (F0, F1 and F2 levels respectively). The three diets were each given at two levels of feeding (low, L; high, H): 57.6 g/d per kg metabolic body-weight (W0.75) for the LFO diet and 74.7 g/d per kg W0.75 for the HFO diet. Apparent digestibility of the diets increased in response to the addition of fishmeal. Mean dry matter digestibility values were 0.67, 0.67, 0.69, 0.66, 0.68 and 0.69 and those for acid-detergent fibre digestibility were 0.60, 0.63, 0.66, 0.58, 0.60 and 0.65 for diets LF0, LF1, LF2, HF0, HF1 and HF2 respectively. Nitrogen retention increased in response to both fishmeal and feeding level. Live-weight gains were 170, 296, 434 g/d for the LF0, LF1 and LF2 diets and 468, 651 and 710 g/d for the HF0, HF1 and HF2 diets respectively. There were significant effects of increasing the plane of feeding and the level of fishmeal in the diet on live-weight gain. Dietary effects on live-weight gains were accompanied by increases in mean energy retention of 23, 45, 82, 94, 160 and 152 kJ/d per kg W0.75 for diets LF0, LF1, LF2, HF0, HF1 and HF2 respectively, but no definite evidence was obtained that dietary supplementation with fishmeal modified the efficiency of utilization of metabolizable energy for growth.

Compartment models for estimating attributes of digesta flow in cattle

1. The basic assumptions involved in one- and two-compartment models with age-independent distributed residence times (exponential, G1) for describing digesta flow are reviewed as the bases for describing families of one- and two-compartment models which assume age-dependent distributions (Gn) of residence times. 2. The two-compartment, age-independent model with exponentially distributed residence times (G1G1) yielded estimates of essentially equal rate parameters when fitted to faecal values for all four cows receiving a diet of 500 g coarsely chopped, sodium hydroxide-treated straw/kg and one of four cows receiving the same diet but with ground and pelleted straw. The incorporation of progressively higher orders of age dependency (G2-G6, Gn) into the faster turnover compartment of two-compartment models (GnG1) resulted in a resolution of equal rate parameters estimated by the G1G1 model and a reduction in standard errors for the rate and the initial concentration parameters. 3. The occurrence of equal rate parameters in two-compartment models indicated an age-dependent process; a process which could equally well be described by a one-compartment, age-dependent compartment having an order of age dependency equal to the sum of these orders in the two-compartment model with equal rate parameters. 4. The age-independent models overestimated time of first appearance in the faeces of a meal's particles. The association of age dependency with the faster turnover compartment resulted in earlier estimates for first appearance of the marked particles; estimates which were more consistent with observed first appearance. 5. The faecal excretion pattern from cows fed on the ground and pelleted straw diet exhibited an age-independent distribution of longer residence times which dominated approximately 80% of the later residence times. Age-dependent, one-compartment models gave a poor fit to such data from these cows fed on ground and pelleted straw. In contrast, age-dependent, one-compartment models provided an excellent fit to data from cows fed on chopped straw; data which indicated that age-independent distributions of residence times were much delayed in appearing or were totally absent. 6. The mean residence time for the slower turnover, age-independent compartment estimated from faecal excretional of stained particles from either diet was similar to that estimated from duodenal concentrations of the stained particles. This suggests that the slower turnover model compartment was confined to preduodenal sites.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The substitution of grass silage by a straw and concentrate mixture for dairy cows

In a 16-week winter-feeding experiment, 3 groups of dairy cows were fed on either silage ad libitum or restricted amounts of silage (6 and 4 kg dry matter (DM) day −1 and a straw and concentrate mixture (straw-mix) ad libitum. The straw-mix contained (per kg DM): sodium hydroxide-treated straw (540 g): ground barley (260 g); soya bean meal (180 g); mineral and vitamin supplement (20 g). All animals received a flat rate of 9 kg concentrate day −1 throughout the experiment. The silage had a lower metabolisable energy (ME) content than the straw-mix (9.8 compared with 10.2 MJ kg −1 DM) and a higher crude protein (CP) content (161 compared with 141 g kg −1 DM). Restricting the amount of silage and including the straw-mix in the diet increased the total DM and ME intake. The cows given silage ad libitum had a significantly lower milk yield and protein yield than those given 4 kg silage DM day −1 plus the straw-mix. There were no significant differences between treatments in milk composition. Animals on silage ad libitum lost liveweight over the 16 weeks, whilst those on the other 2 treatments maintained their liveweight.

Supplemental protein degradation, bacterial protein synthesis and nitrogen retention in sheep eating sodium hydroxide-treated straw.

1. Alkali (sodium hydroxide)-treated wheat straw was given to six rumen- and abomasal-cannulated sheep to study the rumen degradation of cotton-seed meal (CSM) and barley (B), and the effects of these supplements on nitrogen retention and efficiency of bacterial protein synthesis were measured. 2. N degradation, using porous synthetic (nylon) bags incubated within the rumen (P), and in vivo measurement determined from the abomasal flow of N (V), distinguished quantitatively between the two supplements. Estimates of P, corrected for fractional outflow rates/h (FOR), underestimated estimates of V when FOR of undegraded protein from the rumen (k) of 0.05 and 0.08 were used. Estimates of V for CSM and B were 70.9 and 80.8% respectively. 3. Intakes of alkali-treated straw were not affected by the supplements. Intakes of digestible organic matter (DOM) for the diets comprising alkali-treated straw alone (W), straw plus CSM (WC) and straw plus barley (WB) were 477, 575 and 590 g/d respectively (P less than 0.05) and organic matter (OM) apparently digested in the rumen (OMADR) was 339, 399 and 435 g/d respectively (P less than 0.05). 4. On W, WC and WB respectively, flows at the abomasum were 11.0, 14.0 and 13.3 g/d for bacterial N (P less than 0.05) and 0, 2.8 and 0.5 g/d for dietary supplemental N; g bacterial N/kg OMADR were 32.4, 35.6 and 30.9 (P greater than 0.05) and N balances were 2.37, 4.27 and 3.29 g/d (P less than 0.05) on the respective treatments. It was suggested that supplements increased total OM intake as a result of increased OM digested in the rumen rather than OM flow from the rumen.

Acid-base balance in ruminating calves given sodium hydroxide-treated straw.

1. Studies of whole-body balances of non-metabolizable base (NB) and several minerals, and of relevant acid-base quantities in blood and urine, were carried out in two 6-month-old ruminating Holstein X Friesian bull calves fed on fixed rations containing 500 g barley straw/kg diet (group A) to examine the quantitatively important components of the balance of NB and determine the rates of mineral and NB retention associated with normal body growth. 2. Parallel balance studies were conducted in six other bull calves given fixed rations containing 500 g alkali-treated barley straw/kg diet to evaluate the effects of long-term alkali-straw feeding on the rates of body growth and skeletal mineral and NB deposition and the renal control of extracellular electrolyte and acid-base status. The straw component was treated either with 50 g sodium hydroxide/kg dry matter (DM) (group B; two calves), or with 50 g or 100 g NaOH/kg DM and subsequently neutralized with hydrochloric acid (groups C and D, two calves per group). In all groups the animals were given free access to tap water. 3. Throughout the total 105 d experiment, all animals remained healthy and gained weight. Normal body growth group A) was associated with a positive balance of NB (1-2 mmol/kg live weight (LW) per d) due to continuing deposition of dietary NB in 'new tissue', largely in the developing skeleton. 4. During 105 d alkali-straw feeding, the animals showed a remarkable ability to cope with dietary loads of NAOH or sodium chloride, up to about 30 mmol/kg LW per d, without any significant disturbance of extracellular acid-base and electrolyte status or body growth rate. The surplus mineral and NB loads were absorbed and subsequently excreted in an increased volume of urine. Rates of mineral and NB retention were not significantly different from the reference values of group A and remained within the range of values reported from similar studies. In all groups, maintenance of normal whole blood and plasma acid-base and electrolyte status was accounted for by efficient renal control of the composition of the extracellular fluid compartment.

Digestion and utilization of straw. 1. Effect of different chemical treatments on degradability and digestibility of barley straw by sheep

ABSTRACTBarley straw was treated with anhydrous ammonia, sodium hydroxide, ammonia plus sodium hydroxide, sulphuric acid or ammonia plus sulphuric acid to study the effect on the digestibility of straw and the degradability of the straw in the rumen of sheep.In experiment 1 four wethers fitted with rumen cannulae were given ammonia-treated straw to appetite and were used for measuring the dry- and organic-matter degradability of straw in the rumen after different in sacco incubation times. The organic-matter degradability (g/kg) after 48 h in sacco incubation was 459, 603, 576 and 660 for control, ammonia, sodium hydroxide and ammonia plus sodium hydroxide-treated straw respectively. Each treatment improved the degradability significantly (P < 0·01). The effect of ammonia plus sodium hydroxide treatment on rumen degradability of straw was additive (P < 0·05).In experiment 2 the treated straws studied in experiment 1 were given to four wethers in a 4 × 4 Latin-square design, to measure the voluntary intake, digestibility, water consumption and urine excretion. The digestibility (g/kg) and daily intake of digestible organic matter (g/kg M0·75 per day) were 554, 12·5; 628, 24·7; 653, 19·7; and 668, 24·3 for the control, ammonia, sodium hydroxide and ammonia plus sodium hydroxide-treated straws, respectively. Intake of ammonia-treated straw was significantly greater than for sodium hydroxide-treated straw (P < 0·01). The water consumption and urine excretion by sheep were increased significantly by sodium hydroxide and ammonia plus sodium hydroxide treatments (P < 0·01).In experiment 3, either straw or ammonia-treated straw were treated with 20, 40 and 60 g sulphuric acid (200 ml/1 solution per kg). The degradability of the acid-treated straws was measured using three wethers fitted with cannulae and given ammonia-treated straw to appetite. The dry-matter degradabilities (g/kg) after 48 h in sacco incubation were 52·0, 53·9, 58·7 and 67·4 for the control, and 20, 40 and 60 g acid per kg treatments, whereas the values were 61·3, 60·4, 68·4 and 69·4 for the ammonia-treated straw, and 20, 40 and 60 g acid per kg treatments respectively. There was a significant effect of acid treatment and ammonia treatment on dry-matter degradability.

A note on the effect of monensin when added to diets high in sodium hydroxide-treated straw given to cattle

ABSTRACTFour groups of 12 beef heifers were each given either straw treated with 35 g sodium hydroxide per kg (TS) or untreated straw (US) and were either supplemented with 35 mg monensin per kg (Ms) or not supplemented (Ns). The diet consisted of approximately 0·40 of a concentrate mixture that contained 12·8 MJ metabolizable energy and 243 g crude protein per kg dry matter, and 0·60 straw. Feeding was ad libitum. The average initial weight of the heifers was 207·2 kg and the experiment lasted 86 days.The average dry matter consumed was 2·3g/kg live weight. Average daily gain (±s.e.) was 505±31·6, 371±33·8, 380±26·2 and 257±32·7g/day for treatment groups TS-Ms, TS-Ns, US-Ms and US-Ns, respectively. These findings indicate that monensin may counteract some ill-effects of diets high in sodium hydroxide-treated straw and thus further research is warranted.

A note on the response of growing rabbits to varying levels of sodium hydroxide-treated straw

ABSTRACTTwo trials were conducted at the BOCM Silcock Development Unit at Stoke Mandeville. The first trial evaluated the response on doe and progeny, from mating to 8 weeks after parturition, of rabbit compound diets containing 0, 100, 200 and 300 g sodium hydroxide-treated straw per kg. Performance data showed no detrimental effect of inclusion levels up to 300 g sodium hydroxide-treated straw per kg despite its high sodium concentration.A second trial was made to ascertain whether these findings were due to the treated straw itself or to increasing sodium concentrations. A standard rabbit compound diet containing 2·5 g sodium per kg was compared with diets containing either 5·0 or 10·0 g sodium per kg, and with experimental compound diets containing either 80 g sodium hydroxide-treated straw or 80 g untreated straw per kg and both containing 2·5 g sodium per kg. Peak food conversion was estimated to occur at a dietary sodium concentration of 4·6g/kg, although the slope of the dose response curve was not statistically significant at the P ≤ level.The results indicate that compound diets containing up to 80 to lOOg sodium hydroxide-treated straw per kg may be fed to rabbits and that inclusion of levels of up to 300 g sodium hydroxide-treated straw per kg are not detrimental to performance. On the other hand, an inclusion of 80 g untreated ground straw per kg in compound diets for rabbits had a growth-depressing effect.

Digestion and Duodenal Flow of Ammonia-Treated Straw, and Sodium Hydroxide-Treated Straw Supplemented with Urea, Soybean Meal or Fish Viscera Silage

Digestion and Duodenal Flow of Ammonia-Treated Straw, and Sodium Hydroxide-Treated Straw Supplemented with Urea, Soybean Meal or Fish Viscera Silage

The Use of a “Tt” Shaped Cannula for Collection of Duodenal Digesta in Sheep

Six sheep were equipped with both a rumen fistula and a duodenal cannula. The duodenal cannula was made of two ordinary T shape cannulas which were vulcanized into a double T cannula. Both the rumen and the duodenal cannulas were made of soft rubber. In two experiments six different diets were fed. In the first experiment the diets consisted mainly of ammonia-treated straw (NH3-straw) plus barley or sodium hydroxide-treated straw (NaOH-straw) plus concentrate containing different N-supplements. In the second experiment, the treated straw (either NH3-straw or NaOH-straw) was fed alone. The animals in the two experiments were fed at maintenance level. Duodenal digesta were collected for periods of 12 h by inflating a balloon in the distal flange of the cannula, using pieces of foam rubber. The volume of fluid leaving the rumen was measured using the marker Gr-EDTA. The effect of digesta removal on blood constituents was studied. Three to four observations on each ration were made. Digesta flow and dry matter entering the duodenum were higher with NH3-straw than NaOH-straw fed either alone or with concentrate. However, there was a considerable variation of which a large part was of individual nature. The volume of fluid reaching the duodenum was always lower than the volume leaving the rumen, indicating a net absorption of water in the omasum and abomasum. This was estimated to be from 10.1 to 11.6 1/24 h in Experiment 1 and from 0.3 to 1.4 1/24 h in Experiment 2 (51–59 and 5–31 % of the ruminai outflow, respectively). A significant increase in plasma K and Mg and decrease in Pi and a-amino N concentration were observed due to 12 h collection of duodenal digesta. However, plasma Na, Ca, glucose and urea nitrogen concentrations remained at their pre-collection levels. Post-mortem examination of duodenum in sheep slaughtered after six and 10 months revealed a normal gut with no sign of dilatation in the immediate vicinity of the cannula.

The use of sodium hydroxide-treated straw in rations for beef cattle

ABSTRACTSixty-four British Friesian castrated male cattle (steers) with an average starting weight of 292 kg and an average slaughter weight of 460 kg were used to compare compound diets containing 0, 10, 20 or 30% NaOH-treated straw. A basic diet of 1·8 kg hay, 1·8 kg barley straw and sugar beet pulp, on a scale rising from 1·4 to 2·8 kg according to live weight, was given throughout the trial. Compound diets were individually offered on a scale starting at 3·8 kg rising to 5·8 kg with an average intake of 4·9 kg/day. Treatments did not differ significantly in respect of live-weight gain, which ranged from 0·94 kg/day with the control to 0·97 kg/day with the 30% NaOH-treated straw compound. The grading of the animals, based on the Meat and Livestock Classification scheme, also showed no significant difference.A second trial with a further 64 British Friesian steers tested inclusion levels of 0, 30,45 and 60% treated straw in a compound diet. At the start of the trial, the cattle averaged 328 kg live weight and were slaughtered from 450 kg live weight. Animals were yarded in store condition and were given a combination of grass silage and compound diets according to a scale, based on live weight and a predicted performance of 1 kg live-weight gain per day. There were no significant differences between treatments in live-weight gain, which ranged from 0·97 kg on the control to 1·02 kg/day on the 45% NaOH-treated straw diet. There was some refusal on the 60% NaOH-treated straw diet in respect of twice daily allocations, with a few cattle on occasions not being able to consume the allowance in the 30 min provided. However, each feed allocation was always consumed before the next meal. There were no significant differences between treatments in respect of fat class, but cattle on the 45% treated-straw diet had statistically superior conformation compared with the control.

Determination of Sodium in Alkali-Treated Cereal Straws, Lye-Peel Wastes, and Brine-Frozen Foods with an Ion Selective Electrode Compared with Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Abstract A simple procedure is described for determining sodium in sodium hydroxide-treated rice straw and rye grass, lye-peeled potato wastes, and brine-frozen vegetables. Samples containing ≤4% sodium were extracted with 0.05M ammonium carbonate and the extracts were analyzed directly by using a sodium ion selective electrode over the range 10−4 to 10−2M sodium ion. Comparable analyses of the same extracts by atomic absorption spectrometry agreed to within 10%. Recovery of sodium added to control rice straw was 102%.

The synthesis of vitamins in the rumen of sheep. I. The effect of diet on the synthesis of thiamine, riboflavin, and nicotinic acid

The levels of thiamine, riboflavin, and nicotinic acid in the rumen of sheep, fed a variety of diets, were determined by chemical methods. The intakes of dry matter, B vitamins, protein, non-protein nitrogen, and energy were recorded, and the rumen volumes on each diet were estimated. The diets were mainly of a semi-synthetic type, consisting of sodium hydroxide-treated straw supplemented with varying amounts of casein, urea, starch, sugar, and minerals. When the intake of the B vitamins was high, little microbial synthesis took place in the rumen. However, when the diet offered was deficient in the R vitamins the levels of synthesis were high. There was no apparent relationship between the levels of the vitamins in the food and the levels in the rumen liquid. However, a relationship between the nitrogen intake and the vitamin levels in the rumen was found. This relationship was marked when widely differing levels of B vitamin were fed. The total substitution of the dietary protein (casein) by non-protein nitrogen (urea) did not influence the synthesis of thiamine and riboflavin but did depress the synthesis of nicotinic acid.