Effect of electron beam radiation on chemical composition, degradability parameters and ruminal-postruminal digestibility of dry matter, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber of sugarcane bagasse

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Abstract

In this study, samples of sugarcane bagasse were irradiated with doses of 100, 200, 300 KGy to evaluate the effect of electron beam on the chemical composition, ruminal degradability parameters and ruminal-postruminal digestibility of dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF). For this purpose, initially using the nylon bag technique, the amount of 5 g of each sample (6 repeats) was ground and incubated for 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, 48 and 72 hours in the rumen of two Holstein heifers and parameters of ruminal degradability were estimated. Statistical analysis of data on various parameters and effective degradability was performed using SAS software. Based on the results of the study, the reduction of ADF content of bagasse in irradiated treatments was ruminically significant (P<0.05), while for NDF content this reduction was statistically significant (P<0.05). Quickly degradable fraction (a) of DM and NDF of sugarcane bagasse were significantly increased (P<0.05). Potentially degradable fraction (b) of NDF of sugarcane bagasse increased with increasing of irradiation dose and for DM, it was decreased at first and then was increased at the dose of 300 KGy, although this change was not statistically significant. Total digestibility of DM in sugarcane bagasse increased significantly (P<0.05). Ruminal digestibility of ADF was significantly increased with dose of 100 KGy (P<0.05). The results showed electron beam irradiation had an effective role in improving the nutritive value and digestibility of sugarcane bagasse, but regarding the absence of an dose related effect, the dose of 100 kGy is recommended.

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