The digestibility of chemical treated bagasse in molasses-based diets for sheep and goats

C. Devendra

Abstract

A study is reported on the digestibility by sheep of molasses -based diets containing 5,10, 15,20,25,30,35 and 40 per cent bagasse treated with 4 and 6 per cent NaOH. Treatment with NaOH reduced the crude fibre content of crude bagasse by 22 to 28 per cent. The data on intake and apparent digestibility of nutrients indicated a decreasing trend with increasing level of dietary bagasse. With both levels of NaOH usage, statistically significant differences between treatments were only found in dry matter, organic matter, crude fibre and energy digestibility. The general pattern of the results favoured the 4 per cent level of NaOH, and indicated that the optimum level of bagasse inclusion was 20 to 30 per cent in the diet. A lower level of alkali used will also tend to reduce the cost of treatment. The possible reasons for the improved digestibility are discussed. Comparative intake and digestibility data between sheep and goats for both levels of NaOH, but specific to 20 and 40 per cent bagasse levels in the diet, indicated that goats had a superior digestive efficiency. Statistically, significant higher digestibility data for crude fibre and energy were recorded (P<0.05) goats compared to sheep for the 40 per cent bagasse level. The need for further work in this direction, especially with regard to processing and possibly also heat treatment so as to promote improvements in feeding systems involving the by-products is stressed.

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