Evaluation of Crinipellis sp. Treated Wheat Straw Based Diet for Ruminants under in Vitro System

The present study was conducted to assess the nutritive worth of wheat straw based diet (T₁) and Crinipellis sp. (white-rot fungus) treated wheat straw based diet (T₂) in terms of in vitro gas production, digestibility and rumen fermentation pattern. Diets (DM basis) containing 70% straw, 10% berseem fodder, 17% groundnut cake, 2% mineral mixture and 1% salt were formulated. In vitro total gas production (GV_24h), true DM and OM digestibility (48 h) were higher (P<0.05) in T₂ diet compared with T₁ diet. Total N and NH₃-N in rumen liquor of T₂ diet were also higher (P<0.05) than T₁ diet. Propionate concentration increased (P<0.05) with a decrease in acetate to propionate ratio in T₂ diet. This study demonstrated that fungal treatment of wheat straw using Crinipellis sp. produces better quality wheat straw and its incorporation benefits rumen fermentation in vitro.