Enrichment of Animal Feed: A Potential Application of Pseudozyma sp. SPJ

Pseudozyma sp. SPJ and its extracellular pectinase were used for animal feed pretreatment process. The four commonly used animal feed substrates viz. wheat straw, rice straw, corn seeds and green stem of sorghum were treated with pectinase (alone) and in combination with cellulase produced by Flavobacterium bolustinum. Significant results were obtained at 50°C of incubation temperature for 6-8 h. Wheat straw was found to be the best treated feed substrate. Pectinase and cellulase treatments resulted in appreciable release of reducing sugars and soluble protein with significant weight loss. Pseudozyma sp. SPJ also grew effectively on all the feed substrates without using any media supplement. The pectinase activity of 82.20 to 90.65 IU g-1 (dry substrate) was found in the culture filtrates. Wheat straw, rice straw, corn seeds and sorghum stem loosed 39.2%, 19.5%, 77.4% and 34.6% of their dry weight, respectively after 72 h of incubation. This pretreatment process liquefies the animal feed with increase in the available protein and energy content. It may reduce the feed cost and also the environmental pollution.