Biodegradation of maize straw by fungi for use as ruminant feed

Biodegradation of chopped maize straw incubated at 50°C for 26 days has been investigated. Humicola insolens was the predominant fungus in the biodegradation. Other fungi isolated included Mucor pusillus. Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium species and yeasts. The biodegradation led to a net increase of 97.005%, 34.253 and 3.42% in total ash, crude protein and nitrogen-free extract respectively. A decrease of 21.493 in crude fibre was observed. There was an average weight gain of 1.04 ±. 0.20 g/day/rat and 1.63 ±. 0.65 g/day/rat in rats fed with undegraded and degraded straw respectively. Feed efficiency ratios in the two straw diets were however low, suggesting the need to further improve the palatability and reduce the fibre level.Keywords:- Straw, fLmgi, biodegradation, feed, ruminant