Effect Of Laboratory Produced Xylanase From Aspergillus niger On Fibre Digestibility Of Rice Husk And Guinea Grass

Abstract

The efficacy of laboratory produced xylanase enzyme from Aspergillus niger on highly fibrous feeds and feedstuffs was investigated. Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) from grass hay and rice husk (Oryza sativa) from crop by-product characterised with high fibre content served as substrates (Feeds and Feedstuffs) for the experiment. The enzyme xylanase was prepared from Aspergillus niger (fungal extracts). The two substrates were treated with three levels of aqueous enzymes xylanase (0.02 ml/g, 0.04 ml/g, 0.08 ml/g). Substrate with no enzyme treatment (0 ml/g) served as control. Substrates were subjected to xylanase enzyme treatment at different time interval to determine the optimum incubation period for maximum fibre digestibility. Rice husk and guinea grass were analysed to determine the level of digestibility of fibre fractions such as crude fibre, hemicellulose, acid detergent fibre, neutral detergent fibre and lignin. The results indicate an improvement in fibre digestibility for rice husk and guinea grass treated with enzyme when compared with the control. There was no significant different in the fibre digestibility of substrate treated different levels of xylanase enzyme. Results obtained on the period of application showed no significant different across the time intervals (0 hr, 24 hr, 48 hr and 72 hr). The results therefore, suggest that optimum fibre digestibility could be obtained at level 0.02 ml/g of xylanase treatment at any time interval.

Key Words: Aspergillus niger, Xylanase, Rice husk, Guinea grass, Laboratory