Ricepolishings produced in the final milling process of white rice production, are a potentially useful and readily available, but underused by-product in Colombia. There is a considerable interest in assessing their value as a feed supplement for ruminant animals. The aim of this study was to assess their nutritive value by the use of chemical analysis, the in vitro menke gas test and in sacco dacron bag techniques.

Duplicate samples of Colombian ricepolishings (CRP) were analysed for proximate constituents and to determine the concentrations of fatty acids and amino acids in the fat and protein respectively.

In the menke gas test, dietary preparations containing either CRP or a mixture (0.41 and 0.59 of dried grass and medium quality hay respectively) DGH, were studied in the following ratios: 1.0 CRP: 0.0 DGH (A); 0.80 CRP: 0.2 DGH(B); 0.6 CRP: 0.4 DGH (C); 0.4 CRP: 0.6 DGH (D) 0.2 CRP: 0.80 DGH (E) and 0.0 CRP: 1.0 DGH (F).