Indian Journal of Animal Nutrition

Sugarcane bagasse was treated with two levels of alkaline (pH 10.5–11.0) H₂O₂, (1 and 2% w/w) at different moisture levels (100,150 and 200 ml water/100 g bagasse), or variable steam pressures (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 lb/inch²), for different durations (5, 10, 15 and 20 min). Alkaline H₂O₂ treatment decreased cell wall components significantly. The decrease in NDF was from 85.52 to 66.85% ADF from 48.12 to 44.45%, cellulose from 36.68 to 32.00% and ADL from 11.94 to 9.46%, with a corresponding increase in the NDS fraction. Steam pressure reduced mean NDF content from 85.85 to 65.49%, and ADL from 12.00 to 11.29%, whereas cellulose and ADF remained unaffected. The alkaline H₂O₂ showed maximum improvement in ISDMD (15% units) at 1% H₂O₂ level, while further improvement at 2% level was only 3.5% units over 1% H₂O₂. With steam pressure the ISDMD was improved from 32.0 to 52.15%. Best results were obtained at 30 lb/inch² pressure for 5 min duration.