Abstract
After adjustment of moisture content to about 65%, rice straw was packed in 2l plastic bags and sterilized. The sterilized straw substrates were inoculated with 3 strains of homogenized fungus mass, Pleurotus ostreatus. After 100 to 140 days of incubation, the straw substrates were fed ad lib. to mature wethers in order to measure voluntary intake and digestibility. The incubation decreased hemicellulose contents, while the changes in cellulose content were small. The incubation periods were not long enough to reduce ADL contents. The incubation lowered apparent digestibility, while the voluntary dry matter consumption increased from about 12-13g/kg to about 20g/kg. Intake of digestible dry matter increased in conjunction with increases in dry matter intake.
