Evaluation of low molecular weight fractions and crude enzyme preparation from a Trichoderma cellulase complex as a treatment for fibrous feeds

An experiment was conducted to evaluate effects of an enzyme filtrate or a crude enzyme preparation on in vitro disappearance of six common fibrous feeds being: alfalfa hay, brome grass hay, cottonseed hulls, soybean hulls, wheat bran and wheat straw. A commercial liquid feed grade enzyme product originating from a strain of Trichoderma reesei was used. To obtain filtrates, the crude enzyme preparation was filtered through membranes with molecular weight cutoffs of 5 and 10 kDa. Feeds were exposed to enzymes, filtrates, or a buffer, for 20 h. Filtrates and crude enzyme preparation were diluted in 12.5 mM sodium citrate buffer. In vitro fermentation followed treatment of the feeds for 24 and 48 h. Release of glucose and total monosaccharides was quantified following treatment of alfalfa hay and soybean hulls at 2 and 24 h, and release of phenolic monomers was measured at 24 h of incubation. For in vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD), treatment x time interactions occurred for alfalfa hay ( P=0.01) and cottonseed hulls ( P=0.04). Higher ( P