This study was conducted to investigate the effect of biological treatment with Pleurotus florida fungi on chemical composition and rumen dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) degradability of wheat and barley straw. Wheat and barley straw were collected from Golestan province of Iran and after pasteurization mixed with fungi spawn (than 5% by weight). After 21 days samples were dried in oven (60 ˚ C) in order to stop fungi growth. Dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) degradation determined using nylon bag technique with two fistulated Dalagh rams and samples were incubated at zero to 96 hours in rumen. Fungi cultivation significantly decreased the amount of dry matter (DM), Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) in wheat and barley straw (P<0.01). Ash and crude protein (CP) content significantly increased with processing by fungi in treatments (P<0.01). Ether extract (EE) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) content did not differ by processing with fungi. The soluble fraction (a) and potential degradability (a+b) of dry matter (DM) increased (P<0.05) by processing with fungi in both straw. The insoluble but potentially degradable fraction (b) of dry matter (DM) degradability increased (P<0.05) by processing with fungi in wheat straw, but did not change in Barley straw. The a and a + b fractions of organic matter (OM) degradability increased (P<0.01) by processing in both straw. The b fraction of organic matter (OM) degradability increased (P<0.01) by processing with fungi in wheat straw, but did not observed difference in Barley straw. Therefore, it has been concluded that the treating the wheat and barley straw with fungi improved the nutritive value in the present study.

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