| Abstract: | Abstract : Practical use of the prediction equation for metabolisable energy (ME) of ruminant feeds, which resulted from a study commissioned by the UK Agriculture Industry in 1986 (MAFF 1990), has produced low predictions for feeding stuffs containing palm kernel meal. This was found to be due to the presence of galactomannans which are not readily hydrolysed by the enzymes in the cellulase preparation used in the second stage of the neutral-detergent cellulase digestibility method. An additional commercially available enzyme, Gamanase, was identified as capable of hydrolysing these compounds. Whilst Gamanase was active at the same temperature and pH range as cellulase it was found necessary to extend the incubation period from 24h to 40h to achieve adequate agreement with in-vivo digestibility. Experiments showed that the modifications to the method had no significant effect on the predicted ME for feeding-stuffs not containing palm kernel meal. |
