Process for improving the palatability of straw for animal feed

• US 4,243,686 A
• Filed: 05/30/1979
• Issued: 01/06/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Department Of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: United States Department Of Agriculture
• Inventors: Han, Youn W., Anderson, Arthur W., Israilides, Cleanthes
• Primary Examiner(s): Penland, R. B.
• Application Number:
  US06/043,975
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 426/49, 426/69, 426/53, 426/805, 426/807, 426/636, 426/626
• US Class Current: 426/53
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 10/12 by fermentation of natural products, e.g. of vegetable material, animal waste material or biomass
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 10/32 from hydrolysates of wood or straw
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/22 Processes using, or culture media containing, cellulose or hydrolysates thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 426/807 Poultry or ruminant feed

Abstract

The palatability as well as digestibility and protein content of straw is enhanced by treating it with a dilute aqueous solution of hydrochloric and phosphoric acids, ammoniating the acid-treated straw, and fermenting it with a yeast such as Aureobasidium pullulans. The so-treated straw is useful as a feed for ruminants and other animals.

Claims

1. A process for increasing the palatability, digestibility, and protein content of straw, which comprises

(a) mixing the straw with an aqueous solution containing 0.1-0.5 normal hydrochloric acid and 0.1-0.5 normal phosphoric acid in the proportion of one part of straw to about 2-4 parts of aqueous solution at a temperature of about 100°

-125°

C. for a period of about 30-60 minutes.

(b) adding to the acid treated straw an amount of ammonia to provide a pH of about 4.0-4.5,

(c) aerobically fermenting the ammoniated acid-treated straw with a microorganism at a temperature of about 25°

-30°

C. for a period of about 1-7 days, and

(d) drying the fermented product.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the microorganism is selected from the group consisting of Pullalaria (Aureobasidium) pullulans, Phanerochete crysosporium, Candida utilis, and Trichoderma viridi.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the microorganism is Pullaria (Aureobasidium) pullulans.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the microorganism is Phanerochete crysosporium.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the microorganism is Candida utilis.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein the microorganism is Trichoderma viridi.