The Effect of Microwave Treatment on Animal Fodder

Abstract

Preliminary research has suggested that in vitro dry matter disappearance (DMD) of some poor quality animal fodder materials can be improved by microwave treatment. Laboratory scale experiments revealed that dry matter percentage of Lucerne hay increased by 1.7% as microwave treatment time increased from 0 to 80 seconds. The in vitro DMD of lucerne hay increased by 14.9% during the same microwave treatment. In addition it was also demonstrated that microwave treatment significantly increased starch digestion of oats compared to the control samples. These experiments were followed up with a larger sample experiment in which 25 kg bags of Lucerne fodder were treated for 7.5, 15, 22.5 or 30 minutes in an experimental 6 kW microwave chamber. Dry matter percentage increased by 7.2% as microwave treatment time increased from 0 to 30 minutes. Microwave treatment significantly increased DMD during an in vitro digestion study; however there were no significant differences between the various microwave treatment times. The 15 minute treatment resulted in the greatest increase in dry matter disappearance (5.9%). The crude protein retained in the digestion residues increased by 19.2% as microwave treatment increased from 0 to 30 minutes. These laboratory studies were followed up with an animal response study in which a Merino sheep group being fed the microwave treated lucerne gained 8.1% of their initial body weight by the end of the trial compared to a 0.4% increase in body weight for the control group.

Microwave Heat Treatment Induced Changes in Forage Hay Digestibility and Cell Microstructure

“…Lucerne hay showed the highest increase of all hays in the present study, with increases in in DMD content (11%) and DOMD content (14%) at 60 s MW treatment compared with the control. The level of increase in the DMD content of lucerne hay was similar to the finding of Brodie et al (2012) [13]. The study showed that DMD increased by 14.9% when treated for 80 s MW treatment (750 W) compared with the control.…”

“…One possible reason could be due to the increase of detection of unavailable cell wall-bound CP during the determination of CP [21], which might become available for detection due to cell wall destruction in this study (Figures 1 and 2). Further, other feed studies suggested that exogenous protein factors (structure, content of antinutritional factor, starch and non-starch polysaccharides) and endogenous factors (cross-linkage, molecular structure, hydrophobicity) [22] could be altered by heat treatment [23], which could in turn impact on protein availability and utilization in animals [13]. Future work is needed to better understand how and why CP content change in response to MW treatment.…”

“…These studies demonstrated that MW treatment reduced rumen dry matter (DM) degradability and increased availability of bypass protein in the small intestine, which may potentially lead to improved ruminant performance. Brodie, et al [13] found that MW treatment increased in small scale pepsin-cellulase in vitro dry matter digestibility (15%) of lucerne hay compared to control, Dong, et al [14] found similar improvement in MW treated wheat straw under in sacco organic matter degradability (20%) study in Yak compared to a control. Based on these studies, it can be hypothesized that MW treatment can enhance the nutritive value of animal feed (grain/roughage) independent of compositional and structural differences (e.g., high-quality concentrates vs low quality roughage, legume vs non legume, etc.)…”

Antioxidant enzyme response of medical plant Persian Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) to irrigation with microwaves treated water

“…Several studies on changes in water exposed to microwaves include a change in pH and water molecules (Wong et al, 2009). In a survey of (Brodie et al, 2012) on the use of microwave in the Lucerne treatment. The total content and loss of dry matter and ratios of complete protein were measured in digest residue compared to untreated sam- Different letters in each column mean signi icant differences at P>0.05 level ples during cellulose digestion in laboratory pepsin.…”

Design and Fabrication of a Microwave Weed Killer Device for Weed Control Applications

“…Based on this effect, the continuous rotation of polarized molecules causes the conversion of electromagnetic energy to heat [2]. Other examples of such applications are wood drying [3][4], microwav e treatment of animal fodder [5], disinfection of walnuts [6], wheat and stored product pest control [7] thermal disinfection of soils [8], anti-freezing [9], and weed control in farms [1].…”