Influence of electron beam and low-pressure steam on the improvement of the nutritional value of date kernel powder for ruminants

The present experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of the electron beam (beam) and low-pressure steam (steam) treatments on the nutritional value of date kernel powder for ruminants. At first, date kernel powders were irradiated with the beam at doses of 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, and 125 KGy. A part of the irradiated date kernels was then treated with steam (134 ᵒC, 40 min.). Digestion and fermentation of date kernel powder were measured using gas production and two-step digestion techniques. Compared to the control, beam or steam resulted in a decrease in NDF and ADF percentages (P<0.05), a significant increase in potential and rate of gas production, partitioning factor, truly degradable organic matter, and in vitro digestibility of dry matter, NDF, and ADF of date kernel (P<0.05), and the 100 KGy had the best performance (P<0.05). Overall, the treatment with steam or electron beam alone improved the nutritional value of the date kernel, but treatment with steam after beam did not have a positive additive effect. Therefore, the results of the present experiment indicate that beam alone has a great capacity for improving the nutritional value of the date kernel, and the use of steam after the beam has failed to make more improvement.