Inhibition of ruminant feed enzyme polysaccharidase activities by extracts from silages

Abstract

Extracts from 14 barley silages inhibited endo-1, 4-β-xylanase and α-amylase activities of a ruminant feed enzyme additive from Trichoderma longibrachiatum by 23 to 50% but had little effect on cellulase activity. The inhibitory factor(s) were <10 kDa in size and were stable to autoclaving. These observations may explain why feed enzymes are generally less effective when applied to silages than when applied to dry feeds.