IN VITRO STUDIES TO EVALUATE SUGAR BEET PULP UNTREATED, SUPPLEMENTED WITH UREA OR TREATED WITH FUNGUS AS A FEED INGREDIENT FOR RUMINANTS

Sugar beet pulp (SBP) is the by-product of sugar extracting industry from sugar beet. The crude protein content of SBP is 9.16% ±1.21. While it^’s In-vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD) is 58.85% ±0.76. Increasing the IVDMD and organic matter disappearance (IVOMD) of SBP either by fungus treatment (Trichoderma Harzianum, T.H) or supplementation with urea (2%) to in rich it^’s N content was the aim of this work. Three in-vitro experiments were conducted in this study. The objective of first experiment (EXP.1) was to determine the IVDMD, IVOMD, In Vitro crude protein disappearance (IVCPD) and in-vitro crud fiber disappearance (IVCFD) of SBP (T1), SBP plus media (2% urea, 1.5% ammonium sulphate, 1% live dry yeast, saccharomyces Cerevisiae and 0.5% magnesium sulphate as percentages of SBP, T2) and SBP plus media treated with T.H fungi, (T3). The results indicated that treatment with T. H (T3) was the most effective in increasing IVDMD, IVOMD, IVCPD and IVCFD above both T1 and T2. The figures were 63.97, 68.30 and 41.24% for IVDMD, IVOMD and IVCFD of T3. The respective values for T2 were 62.05, 64.70 and 36.45%, while the values for T1 (the untreated SBP) were 58.85, 62.87 and 34.98% for IVDMD, IVOMD and IVCFD, respectively. Differences among treatments in each nutrient were significant (P<0.01). The objective of second experiment (EXP.2) was to find out the best inclusion (level) proportion of USBPin the concentrate feed mixture contained 20% wheat straw (total mixed ration, TMR), that increase IVDMD and IVOMD. The third experiment (EXP.3) was to find out the best inclusion (level) proportion of SBPT.H. that increase IVDMD and IVOMD. The tested inclusion proportions were 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% SBPT. H. The results indicated that 40% inclusion level showed the best value for IVDMD 71.68% ±0.65 and 74.35% ±0.78 for IVOMD, while the respective values of 100% total mixed ration (TMR) were 68.39% ±0.65 and 71.86% ±0.78 for IVDMD and IVOMD, respectively. The differences were significant (P<0.01). The results showed that the 40% inclusion was the best level of USBP in the TMR. The IVDMD was 69.64% ±0.59, while the IVOMD was 72.68% ±0.76. While, the respective values for the concentrate feed mixture (100% TMR) were 67.53% ±0.59 and 71.19% ±0.76 for IVDMD and IVOMD, respectively. Differences were significant (P<0.01). It could be concluded that SBPT. H was the most effective treatment in improving both IVDMD and IVOMD of sugar beet pulp. The improvement achieved was 8.70% for IVDMD and 8.64% for IVOMD than the untreated SBP. The best inclusion level of SBP T. H. in the TMR was 40% as the improvement achieved above the TMR alone was 4.81% for IVDMD and 3.47% for IVOMD.