The effect of enzyme treatment on the in vitro fermentation of lucerne incubated with equine faecal inocula

Murray, J.-A. M.D. , Longland, A. C., Moore-Colyer, M. J. S. and Dunnett, C. (2005) The effect of enzyme treatment on the in vitro fermentation of lucerne incubated with equine faecal inocula. British Journal of Nutrition, 94(05), pp. 771-782. (doi: 10.1079/BJN20051561) (PMID:16277781)

Abstract

A series of experiments was conducted to determine the effects of a fibrolytic enzyme preparation (enzyme 1; E1) on the in vitro fermentation of lucerne incubated with equine faecal inocula. In experiment 1, high-temperature-dried (HT) lucerne was treated with five levels of E1 (0 to 2·4ml/g DM) and incubated at 50°C for 20h. Samples then received a simulated foregut digestion (SFD) treatment before DM and NSP analysis. In experiment 2, HT lucerne was treated with the same enzyme levels used in experiment 1. Samples were then split into two groups; plus or minus an SFD treatment before in vitro fermentation using an equine faecal inoculum. In experiment 3, fresh and wilted lucerne were treated with the same levels of E1 as experiments 1 and 2, incubated at 50°C for 20h, then fermented in vitro. For experiment 4, fresh and wilted lucerne were treated with low levels (0 to 0·008ml/g DM) of E1 before fermentation. E1 significantly (P<0·05) enhanced DM and NSP losses from HT lucerne following SFD treatment compared with the control. High levels of E1 significantly (P<0·05) enhanced the rate, but not extent, of fermentation of HT, wilted and fresh lucerne; however, low levels of E1 were ineffective. At higher application levels, E1 appears to have considerable potential to enhance the nutritive value of lucerne for horses. Information on the fermentation kinetics of the substrates was valuable; all end-point measurements showed no effect of enzyme treatment.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Murray, Professor Jo-Anne
• Authors: Murray, J.-A. M.D., Longland, A. C., Moore-Colyer, M. J. S., and Dunnett, C.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: British Journal of Nutrition
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• ISSN: 0007-1145
• ISSN (Online): 1475-2662