the effect of processing of sugarcane pith with steam on gas production parameters by using isolated rumen microbiota

this experiment was conducted to determine the effect of procceesing of sugarcane pith with high pressure steam (210-220c◦, at 19 bar, over 3 min, on 70 % moisture) on fermentative activity and gas production parameters and degradation by pure microorganism of rumen. the microbial different groups of rumen were separated by physical and chemical methods and using antibiotics. these microbial groups were including; total microorganism, fungi, bacterial, protozoal, fungi and bacteria, bacteria and protozoa and fungi and protozoa. gas production parameters after 96 h incubation by these microbial groups were determined by the exponential equation. the processing with steam significantly increased rate and gas production from fermentable fraction of sugarcane pith by all rumen microbial groups. the highest gas production from fermentable fraction (193.25 ml) and rate of gas production (0.09 ml/h) by rumen microorganism was for sugarcane pith processed with steam. the highest gas production was observed by total rumen microorganism and the lowest was for rumen protozoa. therefore, the result of experiment showed that high pressure steam without detrimental effects can improve digestion and fermentation of sugarcane pith.