Effect of enzymic treatment on nutritive value of leaf fraction of wheat straw

摘要

It has been shown that leaf fraction of cereal straws responds more to polysaccharidase treatment compared to internode and node fractions (Nakashima and 0rskov, 1988, Anim. Prod, 48, 543-551). The aim of this study was to determine the effect of enzymic treatment conditions, ie enzyme loading, incubation period and moisture content, on nutritive value of leaf of wheat straw, variety Mercia. A factorial design experiment (3×3×3) was completed to study the effect of enzyme loading (4, 8 and 16 IU AVICELase/g of substrate), incubation period (7, 14 and 21 days) and moisture (30, 40 and 50%) on the extent of cell wall hydrolysis (cell wall and soluble sugar content) and nutritive value (in vitro gas production technique).