Improvement in The Digestibility of Bagasse Pith by Chemical Treatment

The dry matter digestibility of bagasse pith increased from 27.64 to 72.86 and 61.99 percent when it was treated with 3.5 per cent sodium hydroxide or 2.5 per cent calcium hydroxide respectively. The digestibility of the pith first treated with 8.5 per cent calcium hydroxide and subsequently with 5.8 per cent ammonia was 70.48 per cent. A three fold increase in non-protein nitrogen was also observed. Feeding trials on buffalo calves showed that digestibility of treated pith was equivalent to coarse grain. Average weight gain/head/day was 120 gm more than the calves maintained on standard ration. The cost of the ration was 46.4% less than standard feed.