This experiment was aimed to study the effect of sugarcane bagasse (SB) fermented with Lactobacillus casei TH14, cellulase, and molasses on in vitro gas kinetics, nutrient digestibility, and ruminal fermentation patterns compared to rice straw (RS). A 2 × 2 × 2 (+1) factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design was used. Factor A was levels of L. casei TH14 at 0 and 0.05 g/kg fresh matter, factor B was levels of cellulase at 0 and 104 U/kg fresh matter, and factor C was levels of molasses at 0 and 5 g of substrate DM. The (+1) treatment referred to RS fermentation without additives. The results showed that kinetics of gas, gas production, and total volatile fatty acid were not different between RS and SB treatment. RS had significantly (p < 0.05) greater nutrient digestibility, ruminal pH, ammonia-nitrogen, and protozoa compared the control SB. Compared with control RS and SB, SB fermented with additives had greater (p < 0.05) gas from soluble fraction and rate constant of gas, in vitro dry matter and neutral detergent fiber digestibility, and ruminal propionate. In conclusion, SB fermented with L. casei TH14, cellulase, and molasses in combination promoted ruminal gas production, in vitro digestibility, and ruminal fermentation patterns.
Keywords: Lactobacillus; ammonia-nitrogen; gas production; methane production; volatile fatty acids.