Bio-conversion of cassava peels by white rot fungi for Ruminants

Chemical composition of cassava peels and samples of cassava peels biodegraded by four edible species of white rot fungi (Pleurotus osetreatus , Pleurotus eryngii , pleurotus tuber- regium and lentinus edodes) were determined. The chemical composition of the cassava peels and biodegraded cassava peels samples indicated Pleurotus tuber-regium, as most efficient amongst the four white rot fungi in significantly improving the lignocellulosic cassava peels. Cassava peels was improved by this fungus as Crude Protein rose from 3.33 to 9.83%; ash 4.00 to 5.84% and hemi-cellulose from 15.91 to 19.23%. It also reduced the crude fibre from 18.61 to 10.66%; Neutral Detergent Fibre (45.85 to 40.40%); Acid Detergent Lignin ( 7.10 to 4.29% ) and cellulose (22.57 to 16.88%). In vitro gas production, metabolizable energy, organic digestible matter, short chain fatty acids and wasteful methane of this bio-converted cassava peels also showed improvement.Superiority of better growth, carcass performance of West African Dwarf goats fed white rot biodegraded cassava base diets has shown that the feed stuff has positive potentials that can be exploited in ruminant nutrition and enhance economic gain.