Abstract
The effects of three cellulase preparations as silage additives on the degradation of cell walls and sugar production for different materials were investigated. The degradation rates of cell walls were considerably different among materials or cellulase preparations. The degradation rates of cell walls were in the order of bahia grass (Paspalum noraturn Fluegge), Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.)>naked barley straw (Hordeum vulgare L. emand Lam.)>rice straw (Oryza sativa L.) for Acremonium cellulase (AC), Italian ryegrass > bahia grass > naked barley straw > rice straw for Meicelase (MC), and Italian ryegrass > naked barley straw > bahia grass > rice straw for Onozuka cellulase (OC). Most of sugars released by cellulase preparations was glucose and there were also small amounts of xylose, arabinose and galactose, which varied with the sources of the materials or types of cellulase preparations. On the whole, the degrading capacity of cellulase preparations to cell walls was AC>MC>OC, suggesting that AC would be a more efficient additive to silage.
