Using of bio-upgraded rice straw in growing lambs nutrition

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the ability of biological treatment (Trichoderma viride and Trichoderma reesei application) of rice straw to improve its chemical composition and cell wall constituents, as well as to evaluate male lamb’s performance fed ration containing treated rice straw. Thirty crossbred (Rahmany X Romanof) lambs (3 months old, 21±1.46 kg body weight) were randomly assigned to three groups (10 lambs each). Group one was fed ration contained 57% concentrate feed mixture and 19% clover hay plus 24 Untreated Rice Straw (URS), while group two and three were fed rations containing treated rice straw with Trichoderma reesei (TRSV) and Trichoderma viride (TRSR) instead of URS, respectively. Both of biologically treated rice straw TRSV and TRSR recorded lower OM, NDF, ADF and cellulose contents sthan URS. While TRSV and TRSR recorded higher CP, Ash and ADL contents compared to URS. Recovery rate as DM and OM for TRSV were higher than those for TRSR which was 88.05 vs 85.01 for DM recovery and 86.17 vs 83.47 for OM recovery. Insignificant differences were observed in nutrients digestibility, while insignificant increase in nutritive values as digestible protein and total digestible nutrients as well as nitrogen retention were observed for groups fed TRSV and TRSR compared to control. No significant differences were observed in rumen liquor TVFA’s, ammonia-N concentration and pH value among groups at 0, 3 and 6 h after feeding. Groups received TRSV and TRSR were significantly higher total gain and average daily gain and recorded better feed conversion as DM and CP compared to the control group. It could be concluded that biodegradation of rice straw using T. viride and T. reesei upgrade its chemical composition and inclusion TRSV and TRSR in animal ration had no adverse effect on animal performance.