EFFECT OF TREATMENT BY CELLULOLYTIC BACTERIA ON NUTRITIVE VALUE OF CORN STALKS AND ON SOME RUMEN AND BLOOD PARAMETERS OF SHEEP.

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of treatments by cellulolytic bacteria (Cellulomonas cellulasea, Acetobacter xylinum, Thermonospora fusca, Ruminococcus albus and Bacillus sp.) on corn stalks in anaerobic condition. Three experimental trials were conducted; experiment (1): bacteria were used as biological treatments to study the changes that occur in chemical composition and cell wall constituents of ensiled corn stalks. Silage was made from corn stalks and incubated for two months. Experiment (2): investigated effect of treatments by the same five strains of bacteria on IVDM and IVOM disappearance of silage. Experiment (3): in complete randomized design with 21days period, Barki sheep about 34±0.5 kg body weights were fed on three treatments (T1 treated with Cellulomonas, T2 treated with Ruminococcus and T3 untreated) to study effect of treatments on digestibility, nitrogen balance, TDN, some rumen and blood parameters. Results indicated that using cellulolytic bacteria caused marked increase in crude protein (from 2.59 to15.19%) and decrease in crude fiber (from 46.10 to 27.65%) of corn stalks. All treatments significantly decreased NDF, ADF, cellulose and hemicellulose. In addition, the biological treatments by Cellulomonas cellulasea and Ruminococcus albus succeeded more than other species. However, treatments increased IVDMD, IVOMD and digestibility (p<0.05) compared with the untreated corn stalks. It was concluded that biological treatments by Cellulomonas cellulasea and Ruminococcus albus as silage improved digestibility and nutritive value of corn stalks.