Offered Papers Theme A: Efficient Production from Grassland
Description
Tropical grasses are the primary staple diet of most of the domesticated ruminants in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. However, dry matter (DM) digestibility (DMD) and intake levels of these C4 grasses are considerably low, partly because of high lignin contents. Ferulic acid also impedes fibre digestion in such forages due to formation of cross linkages with digestible xylans. Certain esterase enzymes have been shown to cleave ferulic acid cross linkages in wheat bran but no studies have examined whether such enzymes can be used to increase the digestion of tropical grasses. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of a ferulic acid esterase preparation applied at different rates on the digestibility of C4 grasses.
Citation
Adesogan, Adegbola T.; Krueger, N.; Staples, C. R.; Dean, D. B.; and Krueger, W., "Effect of Ferulic Acid Esterase Enzyme Application on the in Vitro Digestibility and in Situ Rumen Degradability of Tropical Grasses" (2023). IGC Proceedings (1997-2023). 163.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/20/themeA/163
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Effect of Ferulic Acid Esterase Enzyme Application on the in Vitro Digestibility and in Situ Rumen Degradability of Tropical Grasses
Tropical grasses are the primary staple diet of most of the domesticated ruminants in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. However, dry matter (DM) digestibility (DMD) and intake levels of these C4 grasses are considerably low, partly because of high lignin contents. Ferulic acid also impedes fibre digestion in such forages due to formation of cross linkages with digestible xylans. Certain esterase enzymes have been shown to cleave ferulic acid cross linkages in wheat bran but no studies have examined whether such enzymes can be used to increase the digestion of tropical grasses. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of a ferulic acid esterase preparation applied at different rates on the digestibility of C4 grasses.
