Use of in vitro gas production technique in the evaluation of fungal treated maize husK

Abstract

Maize husk is potential feed resources for ruminants if properly harnessed. Its uses is
however limited by high fibre content and low digestibility which can be enhanced by
fungal treatment. Maize Husk was degraded for 21 days using three different fungi:
Pleurotus tuber-regium, Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus pulmonarius. The
resulting substrates were analyzed for changes in the chemica composition. The
result obtained showed an increase in the crude protein (CP) from 6.62% for the
control (untreated maize husk) to 9.25% for the Pleurotus tuber-regium treated
maize husk (PTMH), 8.06% for the Pleurotus pulmonarius treated (PPMH) and
7.87% for the Pleurotus ostreatus treated (POMHA) maize husk. Contrarily, the
crude fibre (CF) decreased significantly (P<0.05) from 33.19% (UNMH) for the
control to 15.62% (PTMH). The CF fractions (NDF, ADF and ADL) also decreased
significantly. The gas rate production (c) constant obtained in all the substrates
under study were not significant. Gas volumes at 24h highest in PPMH (30ml) with
the least recorded in UNMH (15ml). The fermentation of the insoluble, but
degradable fraction (b, ml) range from 13 (control) to 27.33 (PPMH). The estimated
organic matter digestibility also increased from 33.22% in the control to 46.99% in
PPMH treated samples. The highest values in short chain fatty acid (SCFA)
0.657mol and metabolizable energy (ME) 8.19 MJ/Kg DM was also estimated for
PPMH. The result obtained in this study showed improvement in the CP, and in vitro
digestibility after fungal treatment suggesting the possibility of recycling maize husk
into value added ruminant feed