Effects of Alkaline Hydrogen-Peroxide Treatment of Crop Residues on Cell Wall Carbohydrate Utilization by Ruminants (Lignocellulose)

Abstract

Cellulose, generally the major component of plant cell walls, would have great potential as a ruminant animal feedstuff if factors limiting its microbial degradation in the ruminant's gastrointestinal tract could be removed by chemical treatment. Treating lignocellulosic materials with an alkaline (pH 11.5) solution of hydrogen peroxide (.26 g hydrogen peroxide per g lignocellulosic material; AHP) increased the ability of ruminal microbes to colonize wheat straw (WS) as measured using scanning electron microscopy. In situ rate of microbial degradation of AHP-treated WS was two-fold greater (P $$.05) amounts of dry matter when fed AHP-treated and low-U WS diets and lower (P $$.05) to those of steers fed diets containing 60% corn silage; 20% corn. The AHP treatment appeared to increase susceptibility of cell wall polysaccharides to microbial degradation by removing phenolic acids which are covalently bound to the cell wall polysaccharides and(or) by disrupting the three-dimensional structure of lignin encrusting the cell wall carbohydrates.