physico-chemical properties of steam treated sugarcane pith and some roughages and their role in ruminants nutrition

on experiment was designed for evaluating the nutritienal characteristics and physico-chemical properties of steam treated sugarcane pith (19 bar, 3 min.) and some other roughages. steam treatment resulted in a significant decreased (p<0.05) in ndf (77 vs. 55%), hemicellulose to cellulose ratio (0.54 vs. 0.10) and increased hemicellulose solubility of and soluble sugar fraction (20 vs. 124 mg/g dm). use of steam pressure improved the physical properties of sugarcane pith such, as increased bulk density (0.20 vs.0.31 mg/ml), solubility (8.2 vs.12.8%), functional specific gravity (0.3 vs. 0.57 g/ml) and soluble organic matter (6.3 vs. 11.2) , and decreased the water holding capacity (2.5 vs. 2.1 ml/g). there were positive and negative regressions between the physical and chemical composition of roughages. there was a negative correlation between bulk density , functional specific gravity , and solubility with ndf, adf and lignin. water holding capacity had a positive correlation whit these parameters. steam-pressure treatment may improve nutritional value of roughage particularly sugarcane by-product compared with the untreated sugarcane pith for ruminant animals.