We claim :-
1.
as
Process for enhancing protein content of deoiled rice bran cake
(hereafter abbreviated as 'DOC' for the sake of brevity and convenience) usable
animal feed characterized in that said process adopts a solid state
fermentation with the help of one or more microorganisms selected from the
group of Aspergillus niger (MTCC No. 282), Lactobacillus acidophilus (MTCC
10307), and Lactobacillus rhamnosus (MTCC 1408) and said process resides
in carrying out the following procedures in stages indicated :
(a) preparation of inoculum and
(b) fermentation of DOC
wherein inoculum is prepared from seed, i.e. stored slant culture, and
propagated until the requisite volume is attained using the aforementioned
microbodies in growth media selected from Czapek dox and MRS and DOC is
seeded with the prepared inoculums, mixed well and set for fermentation for
predetermined period in a fermentation chamber, followed by drying, grinding
and storing.
2. Process as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that predetermined
amount of DOC was divided into two equal parts, each inoculated with
calculated amounts of inoculums and mixed with water in a mixer to adjust
the mixture content to 70%.
3. Process as claimed in Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that at the
outset each slant was inoculated in the aforementioned media separately,
which on maturity after around 72 hours was propagated into 1 litre media
which in turn was inoculated in 10.5 litre media after maturation, incubation
temperature being 30°c and pH 4-4.5, the media was constantly aerated with
filtered air and constantly agitated.
4. Process as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that the product was
transferred to stainless steel trays wherein the average bed height was
adjusted to 6-6.5 inches in each tray, which their contents were incubated in
9
fermentation chamber at 30°c, 90% RH and aerobic condition with adequate
ventilation.
5. Process as claimed in Claim 3, characterized in that incubation was
conducted over 5 days, whereafter the material was dried to a moisture
content of around 9-10% and stored in suitable receptacles like polymeric bags
with inner layer lamination.
6. Process for enhancing protein content of de-oiled rice bran cake usable
as animal feed, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
examples given.