STUDY OF SODIUM HYDROXIDE - WHEY TREATMENT EFFECT ON THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND IN VITRO DIGESTIBILIT OF DATE PALM FROND

Abstract

The objective of this Study was to find and study the method to preserve and improve the utilization of fresh whey in treated dried and ground date palm frond (DPF) with sodium hydroxide (4/o). Water was substituted bv whey in amounts of 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%, by using two incubation temperatures (20 and 40 °C) and three incubation times (0, 20 and 40 days).Dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) digestibility and metabolizable energy were affected significantly (P<0.01) by the treatment, where dry matter digestibility (DMD) increased from 31.27 to 36.07% and organic matter disestibility(OMD) increased from 37.10 to 42.22% and the metabolizable energy was increased from 5.57 toB6 33 MJ/Kg DM, while nitrogen content increased (P<0.05) from 3.81 to 4.32 g/kg DM. The lignin content was decreased (P<0.01) from 113.05 to 94.92 g/kg DM.The results indicated that the best treatment which gave better improvement in nutritive value and in vitro digestibility of DM and OM and metabolizable energy was associated with 40 days incubation time and 40 C temperature incubation degree. Whey could be used as a liquid for sodium hydroxide treatment of DPF.