EFFECT OF ALKALINE HYDROGEN PEROXIDE AND PERACETIC ACID ON IN SACCO RUMINAL DIGESTIBILITY OF ASPEN SAWDUST

The influence of alkaline hydrogen peroxide (AHP) and peracetic acid treatment on in sacco digestion of aspen was evaluated in three non-lactating ruminally cannulated Holstein cows fed a diet containing 90% forage and 10% concentrate on a DM basis. AHP treatment decreased lignin concentration by 40 to 60% resulting in increased concentrations of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and cellulose. Lignin concentrations in peracetic acid treated samples were less than 10% of values for control samples. In sacco disappearance rates of aspen DM, NDF, ADF and cellulose increased (p<.05) with AHP and peracetic acid treatment. Effective degradability of DM, NDF, ADF and cellulose were determined at a ruminal outflow rate of $.05h^{-1}$. Effective degradabilities of AHP treated aspen were approximately three-fold greater and peracetic acid treated samples five-fold greater than untreated control samples. For all parameters measured, peracetic acid treatment resulted in higher (p<.05) digestion coefficients than AHP treated aspen. Results demonstrate that peracetic acid or AHP treatment can enhance the nutritive value of aspen sawdust for ruminants to a level comparable to that reported for many forages.