SAWDUST FOR ANIMAL FEEDS
Sawdust contains 50 to 60% cellulose and about 30% lignin. Cellulose is an important component in animal feeds as a source of energy while lignin acts as a barrier to the digestibility of cellulose. Thus, the animals can hardly digest the sawdust. The lignin can be removed or reduced by first treating the sawdust before it is fed to the animals.
Raw materials:
Sawdust, nitric acid, sodium hydroxide
Equipment:
Mixing vessel
Drier
Procedure:
1. Step the sawdust in 5% nitric acid solution (V/V) at a ratio of one part sawdust to 10 parts nitric acid for one hour at 80° C.
2. Wash the nitrated sawdust with water.
3. Soak the sawdust in a 5% sodium hydroxide solution for one hour. (To make 5% sodium hydroxide solution, dissolve 50 gms. sodium hydroxide, technical grade, in one liter of water).
4. Thoroughly wash the sawdust and then air-dry.
Source: Technology developed by: FPRDI (DOST)
is there an existing commercial demand for saw dust from feed companies?
please i will like to have some materials as regards to use of saw dust as a feed for ruminant nutrition. i’m a research student in Nigeria. thanks
please i will like to have some materials on use of saw dust as a feed for ruminant animal. i’m a research student in Nigeria. thanks
pls i will like to hav som materials on use of saw dust as feed 4 ruminant animal. i’m a research student in Nigeria. thanks
Brilliant work. Could you replicate the same with coconut pith(cocopeat)–the stuff that comes out as waste in coir making from coconut fiber. So much dust goes as waste.
Cocopith blocks are used in horticulture. The dust is left uncared for.