Effects of Exogenous Enzymes on the Nutritive Value of Some Fibrous Forage in Ruminant

Abstract

Ruminant feeding efficiency will always be an important research topic. Thus there is a need to enhance the digestibility of poor-quality fibrous forages due to their lignified cell walls that restrict nutrient availability. A potentially cost-effective means of improving nutrient availability is by supplementation with exogenous enzymes. This chapter explores the influence of exogenous enzymes added to fibrous forages on the nutritive value of diets for ruminants. The sources of exogenous enzymes and their role in improving the utilization of animal feeds are discussed. Moreover, the effects of exogenous enzyme supplementation on ruminal degradation, microbial protein synthesis, and nutrient digestibility were reviewed, together with their effects on animal growth performance, milk yield and the quality of milk and meat.