Inhibition of Rumen microbes by compounds formed in the steam treatment of wheat straw

✍ Scribed by F.B. Castro; P.M. Hotten; E.R. Ørskov; M. Rebeller

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1994
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 527 KB
• Volume: 50
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0960-8524
• DOI: 10.1016/0960-8524(94)90216-x

✦ Synopsis

The aim of this study was to quantify the toxic compounds present in steam-treated wheat straw and measure their effects on tureen microbial activity. Wheat straw was impregnated with 1"8% H2SO 4 and subjected to steam treatment at either low temperature (134°C) for 100, 200 and 300 rain or high temperature (210°C) for 1-5, 3, 4"5 and 6 rnin. Samples were analyzed for carbohydrate composition, total and extractable phenolics, tannin, furfural and hydroxy-methylfurfural (HALF). Utilization of steam-treated samples by rumen microbes were assessed by gas production. At both treatment temperatures significant hemicellulose hydrolysis (80"1 and 96.7%), formation of furfural (0"31 and 1"24%) and depolymerization of lignin, measured as extractable phenolics (5"1 and 9"0%), occurred. There was no evidence that furfural was toxic to rumen microbes. However, the presence of extractable phenolics lowered total gas production.