Performance of dairy goat fed with Lentinula edodes and Ceriporiopsis subvermispora treated wheat straw

Abstract

Abstract Feed crop production annually results in substantial agricultural residues, with wheat straw as the primary contributor. However, the high lignin content in wheat straw limits its nutritional value for ruminants. This study aimed to investigate the potential of fungal pre-treatment using Lentinula (L.) edodes and Ceriporiopsis (C.) subvermispora to enhance wheat straw digestibility and its consequent effects on the performance of dairy goats. In a randomized design, sixteen primiparous goats were fed four diets combining maize silage, compound feed, and soybean meal with either grass silage (Diet A), untreated straw (Diet B), or straw treated with L. edodes (Diet C) or C. subvermispora (Diet D). Various performance metrics were assessed over four weeks, including dry matter intake, milk yield, and body weight. Goats on diets B and C exhibited reduced dry matter intake compared to those on diets A and D. Feed efficiency was notably higher for goats on diet B. Milk production showed significant variations, with the highest yield in goats on diet A and the most significant reduction in those on diet B. As a conclusion, the fungal pre-treatment, especially with C. subvermispora, offers a promising avenue to improve the nutritional value of wheat straw for dairy goats.