Effects of exogenous fibrolytic enzymes on ruminal digestibility in steers fed high fiber rations

The effects of two exogenous fibrolytic enzyme products on ruminal disappearance and fermentation of oat straw-wheat middlings based diets were evaluated. Six steers (322 ± 34.4 kg body weight) fitted with ruminal cannulas were used in a 3 × 3 Latin square replicated. The treatments consisted of: 1) control, 2) Fibrozyme (2 g/kg dry matter), and 3) Promote (3 ml/kg dry matter). Both, Fibrozyme (Alltech Inc.) and Promote NET (Cargill Corp.) were sprayed as liquid onto diets and feeds 24 h before feeding. Samples of diets were ruminally incubated from 0 to 72 h. Enzymes did not change dry matter intake, average daily gain and feed conversion. Fibrozyme increased crude protein (CP) disappearance rate of diet, while Promote increased CP total disappearance. In diets, enzymes did not affect ruminal neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) fractions. Fibrozyme and Promote did increase CP total disappearance, ADF potential disappearance and ADF disappearance rate of wheat middlings, as well as dry matter (DM) and CP total disappearance, NDF disappearance rate, ADF potential disappearance and ADF disappearance rate of oat straw. Ruminal pH values were higher with enzymes, as compared to control. Total volatile fatty acids concentration and molar proportion of acetate and butyrate were not affected by both enzymes, but molar proportion of propionate was lower and acetate:propionate ratio higher with Promote than control. Fibrozyme and Promote did increase DM and CP soluble fractions of diets, as well as, ADF potential disappearance of wheat middling and oat straw.