| Four experiments were conducted with crab processing waste. Addition of 1.5% propionic/formic acid prevented degradation up to 14 d. Desirable fermentation was achieved when 32% of the treated crab waste was ensiled with 32% straw, 16% molasses, and 20% water with or without.1% microbial inoculant. The pH of the silage was lowered and high concentration of lactic acid was observed. Use of.2% NaOCl or.4% H{dollar}sb2{dollar}O{dollar}sb2{dollar} retarded spoilage of crab processing waste up to 7 d. Ensiling of the treated waste (32%), straw (32%), molasses (16%), and H{dollar}sb2{dollar}O (20%) indicated that the chemical used in preservation enhanced fermentation. Addition of.4% NaOCl and 1.5% acetic acid to the crab processing waste retarded degradation up to d 4. The trimethylamine (TMA) concentration and NH{dollar}sb3{dollar} evolution were highest for the untreated waste while the lowest concentration for TMA and NH{dollar}sb3{dollar} evolution were observed for the NaOH-treated waste. Addition of 1% NaNO{dollar}sb2{dollar} or combination of.4% NaOCl/CaOCl (1:1, w/w) preserved the waste for up to 10 d. The evolution of NH{dollar}sb3{dollar} and H{dollar}sb2{dollar}S, and TMA concentration were lowest for the waste treated with 1% NaNO{dollar}sb2{dollar}.; Apparent digestibility of DM, organic matter, CP, energy, NDF, ADF, cellulose and hemicellulose decreased linearly (P {dollar}<{dollar}.01) with level of crab waste-straw silage in diets containing 0, 50, and 100% crab waste-straw silage. Nitrogen retention increased linearly (P {dollar}<{dollar}.05) with level of crab waste-straw silage. The apparent absorption was higher (P {dollar}<{dollar}.01) and retention was positive (P {dollar}<{dollar}.05) for Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cu and Fe with sheep fed the highest level of crab waste-straw silage.; Daily gain, feed efficiency and carcass characteristics tended to be higher for steers fed 30% crab waste-straw silage, dry basis. The flavor and overall desirability of cooked meat were not adversely affected by feeding up to 30% crab waste-straw silage, dry basis.; Modifying the existing methods of quantifying chitin showed that initial decalcification of deprotinization of the samples with chemicals are not necessary. Similar values were obtained for chitin when ADF/ashing method was compared to the ADF/deacetylation method. These methods prevented loss of chitin during preparation.; Digestibility of chitin was higher (58%) for sheep fed 100% crab waste-straw silage compared to the value of 37% in sheep fed 50% crab waste-straw silage. When ADF/ashing method was used in quantifying chitin, higher disappearances were obtained for samples containing 100% crab meal kept in the rumen or incubated in vitro for 72 h. |
