Digestibility of sugar cane bagasse treated with solutions of NaOH and wood ashes

Abstract

An apparent digestibility trial carried out with male sheep, studying sugar cane bagasse (SG B ) nutritive value, in a completely randomized design. SC B received three different imersion: A) 2 % NaOh solution; B) 30% wood ashes solution; C) water. Animals were placed in metabolic cages for 5 days for total collection of faeces and urine. All diets had 60% dry matter as SCB; 16,4% as corn grains; 10,4% as soybean meal; 10,4% as cotton seed meal, 1,8% as mineral and vitaminic premix. Average dry matter ration consumptions were A-0.508 kg (31.58 g/kg 0.75): B-0.472 kg (29.35 g/kg 0.75) and C-0.285 kg (17.22 g/kg 0.75). Digestion coefficients were: dry matter: 59.59% and 35.35% (p < 0.05); crude protein: 56.49%; 58.99% and 57.93%; organic matter: 59.29; 48.18% and 37.51% (p < 0.05); neutral detergent fiber: 59.22%; 43.78% and 25.88% (p < 0.05), respectively for A, Band C treatmens. Concerning DM., O.M. and NDF, alkaline solution treatments improved SC B apparent digestion, NaOH being better than wood ashes, for this purpose.