Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to evaluate the feed nutritional value of brewers' spent grain (BSG) residue resulting from protease aided protein removal. The nutritional value was measured as nutrient content, gas production, nutrient digestibility and fermentation characteristics in batch culture. RESULTS: Protein extraction process decreased content of crude protein but concentrated the neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and ferulic acid in BSG residue. The changes in the chemical composition of BSG residue varied with enzyme and enzyme dosage. Digestibility of dry matter (DMD) and NDF of residue differed among proteases. Increasing alcalase dosage linearly decreased DMD, whereas, the DMD linearly increased as everlase or flavourzyme dosage increased. Compared with BSG, the DMD, gas production and fermentation acid concentration of BSG residues were lower, whereas NDF digestibility was higher. CONCLUSIONS: The substantially increased NDF content and improved in vitro NDF digestibility due to protease hydrolysis suggest that BSG residue can be potentially exploited as a viable fibre source for ruminant feeding.