Development of a fiber supplement to improve fiber digestion in ruminants

为促进瘤胃纤维溶解细菌的活化，提高反刍动物对主要饲料的消化能力，开展了一系列探索天然纤维来源的研究。我们已经成功地鉴定出瘤胃细菌琥珀酸纤维杆菌在稻草的消化过程中起着重要的作用，并且通过添加豆壳和鹰嘴豆壳可以显着地激活这种细菌。随后的绵羊饲养试验表明，在稻草日粮中添加10%的谷壳可使酸性洗涤纤维的消化率提高3-6个百分点。由此可见，这些外壳可以作为反刍动物补充纤维的助推剂。

A series of studies to explore natural fiber sources were carried out for leading activation of fibrolytic rumen bacteria and concomitant improvement of main forage digestion in ruminants. We have successfully identified that the ruminal bacterium Fibrobacter succinogenes plays a prominent role in digestion of rice straw and this bacterium is significantly activated by supplementing lablab bean and chickpea husks. The following feeding experiment using sheep has revealed that 10% supplementation of each husk to rice straw diet improves digestibility of acid detergent fiber by 3-6%. From these it is apparent that these husks could be a booster fiber supplement in ruminants.