Abstract

RAMIREZ-CORTINA, Clementina R.; ALONSO-GUTIERREZ, María S.  and  RIGAL, Luc. Valorization of tequila agroindustrial residues for ruminants feeding. Rev. Chapingo ser. cienc. for. ambient [online]. 2012, vol.18, n.3, pp.449-457. ISSN 2007-4018.  https://doi.org/10.5154/r.rchscfa.2011.08.059.

The aim of this study was to investigate a suitable technology for the use of bagasse of Agave tequilana W. var. azul in food ratios for ruminants. Physical and chemical characteristics of bagasse were evaluated. According to these characteriztics, bagasse can be used as a supplement in ruminant feeding. However, an inconvenience is the low digestibility of bagasse, due to its high content of lignin, used to decrease this a calcium hydroxide treatment was used. The chemical treatment was conducted in a glass reactor (50 L) with the following conditions: concentration of Ca(OH)₂ of 2, 5 and 10 %, bagasse humidity of 20 and 80 %, temperatures of 30 and 50 °C. Digestibility tests were conducted in chemically treated bagasse. The digestibility increased from 36 % (untreated bagasse) to 54.5 % with the best treatment (80 % moisture, Ca(OH)₂ 10 % and 50 °C). It can be concluded that the bagasse treated with Ca(OH)₂ can be used as supplement in the composition of ruminants diet based on the digestibility results.

Keywords : agave bagasse; alkaline treatment; calcium hydroxide; digestibility; forage.

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