Effect of Chemical Treatment or Pelleting of Saw Dust on Chemical Composition and FN vitro Digestibility

Saw dust of teak wood was either pelleted or treated with 4% hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) or 4% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or 3.5% anhydrous-ammonia (NH₃) or 25% sulphuric acid (H₂SO₄) to study their effect on chemical composition and in vitro digestibility. The colour of the material changed from light brown to dark brown by ammoniaticn but was charred and sticky by H2S04 treatment. Pelleting and H₂O₂ did not show much effect un chemical composition or digestibility of saw dust. The results of NaOH were comparable with those of NH₃, barring the advantage of increased crude protein content by the latter. Though the digestibility increased considerably by H₂SO₄, yet it was costly. The results indicate that NH₃ will be useful to improve the utilization of saw dust.