Four experiments with sheep fitted with rumen cannulae were conducted to investigate whether the rate of digestion of ammonia-treated straw, estimated as disappearance of dry matter from nylon bags in the rumen, might be increased by supplements of either soya bean meal, sucrose or sugar beet pulp at a level of 0-1, or by increasing the concentrations of dietary soluble micro and macro minerals.There were no differences among treatments in rate and extent of digestion of straw due to supplementations.In another experiment, the effect of increasing the proportion of molassed sugar beet pulp or rolled barley on rate of digestion of ammonia-treated straw was investigated. A greater proportion of sugar beet pulp (0-45) could be included in the diet before the rate of digestion was decreased in comparison with rolled barley (0-35).Assuming that the digestibility of the sugar beet pulp and the rolled barley was not changed by the increasing proportion in the diet, it could be calculated that the digestibility of straw was reduced from 0-538 with straw alone to 0-403 with the sugar beet pulp and to 0-218 with the rolled barley supplement when the supplements were included at a level of 0-70.

1. Two dairy cows were maintained by intragastric infusion of volatile fatty acids and casein. Except when fasting, the casein-nitrogen was held constant, while total gross energy supply was varied from zero during fasting to 650 kJ/kg body-weight (W)0'75. A study of the relative requirements for protein and energy during undernutrition of ruminants has always been difficult. This is because at maintenance and submaintenance feeding, the retention time of digesta within the rumen is so long that little dietary protein will escape degradation (0rskov & Fraser, 1973). Therefore, the ratio, protein: energy available to the host animal becomes relatively constant, since the protein made available is almost entirely microbial in origin and is generally proportional to the energy-yielding constituents fermented within the rumen. The technique of complete intragastric nutrition by the infusion of volatile fatty acids (VFA) to the rumen, and of protein to the abomasum (Orskov et ai. 1979b), has enabled us to vary the protein:energy value and has made possible a detailed study of the protein requirements during periods of low energy supply. M A T E R I A L S A N D METHODS Expt 1Two non-lactating and non-pregnant Friesian cows (nos. 351 and 355) were used. They weighed approximately 600 kg live weight, were in good bodily condition and were each fitted with a rumen cannula and an abomasal catheter, as described by . The cows were nourished by intragastric infusion as described by 0rskov et al. (1979 b) whereby the VFA, buffer and mineral solutions were infused into the rumen, and protein, vitamins and trace elements into the abomasum. The VFA mixture infused into the rumen consisted of 0.65,0.25 and 0.10 acetic, propionic and butyric acids respectively, expressed as molar proportions.

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ugar beet pulp (SBP) is the by-product of sugar extracting industry from sugar beet. The crude protein content of SBP is 9.16% ±1.21. While it ' s In-vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD) is 58.85% ±0.76. Increasing the IVDMD and organic matter disappearance (IVOMD) of SBP either by fungus treatment (Trichoderma Harzianum, T.H) or supplementation with urea (2%) to in rich it ' s N content was the aim of this work. Three in-vitro experiments were conducted in this study. The objective of first experiment (EXP.1) was to determine the IVDMD, IVOMD, In Vitro crude protein disappearance (IVCPD) and in-vitro crud fiber disappearance (IVCFD) of SBP (T1), SBP plus media (2% urea, 1.5% ammonium sulphate, 1% live dry yeast, saccharomyces Cerevisiae and 0.5% magnesium sulphate as percentages of SBP, T2) and SBP plus media treated with T.H fungi, (T3). The results indicated that treatment with T. H (T3) was the most effective in increasing IVDMD, IVOMD, IVCPD and IVCFD above both T1 and T2. The figures were 63.97, 68.30 and 41.24% for IVDMD, IVOMD and IVCFD of T3. The respective values for T2 were 62.05, 64.70 and 36.45%, while the values for T1 (the untreated SBP) were 58.85, 62.87 and 34.98% for IVDMD, IVOMD and IVCFD, respectively. Differences among treatments in each nutrient were significant (P<0.01). The objective of second experiment (EXP.2) was to find out the best inclusion (level) proportion of USBP in the concentrate feed mixture contained 20% wheat straw (total mixed ration, TMR), that increase IVDMD and IVOMD. The third experiment (EXP.3) was to find out the best inclusion (level) proportion of SBPT.H. that increase IVDMD and IVOMD. The tested inclusion proportions were 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% SBPT. H. The results indicated that 40% inclusion level showed the best value for IVDMD 71.68% ±0.65 and 74.35% ±0.78 for IVOMD, while the respective values of 100% total mixed ration (TMR) were 68.39% ±0.65 and 71.86% ±0.78 for IVDMD and IVOMD, respectively. The differences were significant (P<0.01). The results showed that the 40% inclusion was the best level of USBP in the TMR. The IVDMD was 69.64% ±0.59, while the IVOMD was 72.68% ±0.76. While, the respective values for the concentrate feed mixture (100% TMR) were 67.53% ±0.59 and 71.19% ±0.76 for IVDMD and IVOMD, respectively. Differences were significant (P<0.01). It could be concluded that SBPT. H was the most effective treatment in improving both IVDMD and IVOMD of sugar beet pulp. The improvement achieved was 8.70% for IVDMD and 8.64% for IVOMD than the untreated SBP. The best inclusion level of SBP T. H. in the TMR was 40% as the improvement achieved above the TMR alone was 4.81% for IVDMD and 3.47% for IVOMD.