SUMMARY
The present study was carried out in the Central Laboratory for Food and Feed
(CLFF), Agriculture Research Center and El-Gemeza Experimental Station, Animal
Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre to study the combining
effect of ensilage and treating the cotton stalks with white-rot fungi (Pleurotus
ostreatus) on chemical composition, digestibility coefficients and feeding values.
Rams were fed on the following rations.
Control ration (C) : 60% of requirements from concentrates feed mixture (CFM)
+ raw cotton stalks-untreated (RCS) supplemented with 5% molasses ad lib.
1st ration (T1) : 60% of requirements from concentrate feed mixture (CFM) +
silage cotton stalks (SCS) supplemented with 5% molasses ad lib.
2nd ration (T2): 60% of requirements from concentrate feed mixture (CFM) +
silage treated cotton stalks (STCS) supplemented with 5% molasses ad lib.
The results showed that, CP and NFE contents were increased in treated cotton
stalks silage (STCS) and silage cotton stalks (SCS) compared with raw cotton stalks
(RCS). Crude fiber content in SCS and STCS was decreased by about 33.6% and
49.1%, respectively, compared with that in the raw cotton stalks (RCS). The NDF,
ADF, hemicellulose and cellulose contents of STCS and SCS treatments were
decreased than those of RCS. Most of nutrient digestibility coefficients of rations
contained silage materials were significantly higher (P<0.05) than those of
untreated one. The best values were recorded with ration containing, STCS (T2).
The TDN values were significantly (P< 0.05) higher for T1 and T2 rations
compared with ration C (raw cotton stalks). The DCP value of T2 was significantly
(P<0.05) higher compared with C and T1 rations. It could be concluded that
ensilage of fungi treated cotton stalks could successfully improve the feeding values
of roughages for feeding ruminants. Also, it is helpful in eliminating environmental
pollution.