RUMEN FERMENTATION OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF RICE STRAW IN MOLASSES BASED DIETS CONTAINING ADEQUATE PROTEIN AND ENERGY

ZAINUR ALSMI BTE SHARIF

SUMMARY

In this experiment 3 diets containing 10%, 20% and 30%, rice straw were fed to sheep. The parameters studied include voluntary feed intake (VFI), animal weights, rumen volatile fatty acids (VFA), rumen ammonia and rumen pH. The results showed no significant difference in VFI and animal weights among the 3 diets. The rumen fermentation parameters however indicated 10%level of straw as the optimal level. Rumen fermentation appeared to be retarded as rice straw increased from 10 to 30%. In diet 3 (30% rice straw) the average VFA production was 17.07 equ/1000 ml, rumen ammonia production was 24.04 mg/1000 ml followed by an above average rumen pH of 6.64. The rumen fermentation parameters were however inconclusive possibly due to the shortage of available energy or molasses, studies concering duodenal fermentation, rumen volume and microbial protein determination.

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