AbstractObjective: The purpose of the present study was to enhance nutritional qualities of various agricultural byproducts such as wheat bran, rice bran and rice polish through co-culture solid state fermentation (SSF) using Candida utilis and Rhizopus oligosporus for their better exploitation as feed ingredients.Methods: Co-culture solid state fermentation (SSF) was carried at 30oC for 48 h by employing Candida utilis and Rhizopus oligosporus on various agricultural byproducts like wheat bran, rice bran and rice polish. After that the fermented agricultural byproducts were dried in hot air oven at 80oC and analyzed to compare with unfermented byproducts.Results: The results of the proximate analysis showed that crude protein contents increased significantly (p≤0.05) in all the fermented substrates with concurrent decrease in nitrogen free extract (NFE) contents. A significant reduction in anti nutritional content (phytic acid) was also observed in fermented products whereas values of mineral contents [calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P)] were found high. Resultantly, high mineral contents improved Ca: P ratio in the fermented products. Shelf life study showed that the fermented substrates were nutritionally stable and no significant changes in nutritional values were observed up to 90 days.Conclusion: All these results showed that the fermented substrates are nutritionally better and can be successfully exploited as animal feed for better growth of livestock.
Optimization of solid-state fermentation conditions for Trichoderma harzianum using an orthogonal test
