Effective methods of feed protein protection from excessive degradation in rumen
The relative degradability of protein of various concentrates was studied on 3 wethers fed hay-silage-concentrate diet using <i>in sacco</i> method with 6-hr incubation time. The treatment of sunflower oil cake with formic acid has been shown to decrease the protein degradability from 69 to 59%, and with acetic acid - to 57%. The treatment of feed bean with formic acid decreased protein degradability from 74 to 50%. The new method of hydro-baro-termic treatment of grain was developed, in which the reactor with grain is hermetically sealed and water steam is injected under pressure of 0.9-1 MPa. The optimal duration of treatment varies from 10 to 30 sec, thus the grain is heated up to 140 <sup>o</sup>C and thereafter it moves into expanse compartment where the pressure instantly drops and grain is expanded. After this treatment the degradability of wheat protein has been shown to decrease from 79.6 to 20.5%, of barley and soya bean - up to 1,5-3 times. The starch of the grain after this treatment is getting more available to amilolytic enzymes of rumen microorganisms.