PSVII-35 - Late-Breaking Abstract: Microwave heat treatment feed effect on ruminal degradability and intestinal protein digestibility - a brief review

Rumen degradability of crude protein (CP) of feed is a major factor that determines the utilization of CP in ruminant production. This study briefly reviewed the findings from six international studies of microwave (MW) heat treatment effect on feed CP rumen degradability and intestinal CP digestibility. Six in vitro studies of concentrate feed (canola seed, canola meal, soya bean meal, cottonseed meal, corn, and barley) showed a decrease in effective rumen degradability of dry matter and protein by 4–40% and 17–40%, respectively compared to control group (untreated concentrate feed). Among the six studies, four studies identified the MW heat treatment effect on intestinal protein digestibility. Due to MW heat treatment, canola seed, canola meal, soya bean meal, and cottonseed meal showed an increase in intestinal CP digestibility by 17%, 20%, 21%, and 19%, respectively. Overall the briefly reviewed studies showed that, MW heat treatment substantially reduced feed CP ruminal degradability and increased in vitro CP digestibility of ruminally undegraded CP.