In vitro evaluation of sugarcane bagasse in complete feed

The study was conducted to evaluate sugarcane bagasse as a substitute of wheat straw in complete feed for ruminants. Organic matter content of wheat straw (WS) was lower (P<0.01) than that of sugarcane bagasse (SB), however, NDF, ADF and ADL contents of SB (84.6, 53.4 and 10.8%) were higher (P<0.05) than that of WS (81.7, 51.6 and 7.5%, respectively). SB was having higher Ca and P (0.49 and 0.22%) than in WS (0.18 and 0.11%). Replacement of WS with SB in complete feed with roughage to concentrate ratio of 60:40 at 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% levels increased (P<0.05) their OM content without affecting the CP content. In-vitro DM and OM degradability and total gas production of WS were higher (P<0.01) than SB. Therefore, the values of these parameters decreased gradually with an increase in SB proportion in the complete feeds and lowest being at 100% replacement level. Potential gas production and fractional rate of gas production for WS was higher (P<0.01) than that for SB. Lag phase for SB was longer (7.32h) than for WS (3.55h). Potential gas production was decreased (P<0.01) with the increase in SB level in complete feed. On increasing the SB level in complete feed, gas production per unit digestable DM or OM was reduced. It was concluded that in a complete feed containing WS and concentrate in 60:40 ratio, 40 percent of WS can be replaced with SB without affecting its fermentability and in vitro DM and OM digestibility.