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ABSTRACTThe study was to ascertain the feasibility of using rice straw fermented by Trichodermaas ruminant roughage. Three species or three strains of Trichoderma(NTLg-Te S5-1, NTLg-Te S9-1, and Tien Chung Ca6-1) were used to inoculate hot water-sterilized rice straw. Result showed that rice straw fermented with TrichodermaNTLg-Te S5-1 had the highest cellulase and xylanase activity. Antioxidant ferulic acid content of water extract was improved after fermentation. Eighteen Barbados sheep were randomly distributed into one of three dietary groups. Ration of Bermuda hay group (BER) is 90% Bermuda hay with 10% concentrate. Unfermented rice straw (RS) group and fermented rice straw (FRS) group substituted 25% of Bermuda hay with rice straw or fermented rice straw. Dry matter intake, daily weight gain, blood analysis, and feed conversion ratio were not significantly different among groups after 4 weeks of trial. Dry matter digestibility of BER was the highest, and of FRS was significantly higher than RS. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content in serum of FRS and BER was lower than RS. These results indicated that 25% substitution of Bermuda hay with Trichoderma-fermented rice straw in the diet of Barbados sheep could increase digestibility and inhibit lipid oxidation when compared to unfermented rice straw.

ABSTRACTToona sinensis(TS) leaf is a well-known traditional oriental medicine herb. The purpose of this study was to evaluate in vitroantioxidant capability and performance assessment of White Roman goose supplemented with dried TS leaves (TSL). The TSL extracts contained 22.23 ± 1.13 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry weight (DW) and 1.38 ± 0.06 mg quercetin equivalent/g DW of total phenolics and flavonoid contents. The scavenging action of 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical and superoxide anion was as good as that of the butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and ascorbic acid, respectively. Inhibition of lipid peroxidation of TSL extracts at 2.5 mg/mL reached nearly 40% compared with the BHT. One hundred and eight White Roman geese aged 6 weeks were distributed to six pens randomly, and fed a grower diet ad libitumduring the growing period, with each pen containing nine males and nine females following completely randomized design. Diets were supplemented with the following levels of dried TSL: 0% (control), 0.1% or 0.2% groups for 6 weeks, respectively. The results revealed no significant effects among treatments in the growth performance, blood biochemical parameters and muscle fibre of the grower geese. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) content of the serum in the 0.2% TSL group was significantly higher than that of the control group. In conclusion, dried TSL powder has antioxidative effects in vitroand could serve as a promising natural feed additive to improve the serum SOD content of grower geese.