The effect on digestibility of a new technique for alkali treatment of straw

The Biotechnical Institute in Kolding, Denmark, in collaboration with the National Institute of Animal Science, Copenhagen, has developed a new method for dry chemical treatment of straw with NaOH. Treatment with up to 7% NaOH (percent of straw dry matter) linearly increased enzyme digestibility and digestibility in vitro, and also rate of digestion. Lye treatment reduced cell wall constituents in straw (NDF). Digestibility in sheep was increased by increments of NaOH up to, but not exceeding, 4–5%. Although the process omits washing of excess base from the product, unreacted NaOH did not appear great enough to create concern.