A method for treating a forage to increase digestibility by a ruminant comprises providing a forage for a ruminant comprising a level of ammonia that is from 0.0% to about 1.4% of dry matter (wt/wt). An alkali is applied at a dosage of from about 0.25% to about 0.75% of dry matter (wt/wt) to the forage. At least one exogenous carbohydrase enzyme is applied to the forage after application of the alkali and the forage is subsequently fed to the ruminant.

The invention relates to the use of an isolated arabinanase enzyme comprising the activities of (1-5)--arabinofuranosidic linkage endohydrolysis in (1-5)--L-arabinans (EC 3.2.1.99), and hydrolysis of (1-5)--arabinofuranosidic linkages at the non-reducing end of -L-arabinans or -L-arabinose-oligomers (EC 3.2.1.55), particularly an arabinan-degrading enzyme isolated from Arxula adeninivorans as feed additive in livestock breeding. Furthermore, the invention relates to the application of the arabinanase in the production of fruit juices or biofuels.

The invention relates to the use of an isolated arabinanase enzyme comprising the activities of (1-5)--arabinofuranosidic linkage endohydrolysis in (1-5)--L-arabinans (EC 3.2.1.99), and hydrolysis of (1-5)--arabinofuranosidic linkages at the non-reducing end of -L-arabinans or -L-arabinose-oligomers (EC 3.2.1.55), particularly an arabinan-degrading enzyme isolated from Arxula adeninivorans as feed additive in livestock breeding. Furthermore, the invention relates to the application of the arabinanase in the production of fruit juices or biofuels.

The present invention is directed to an enzyme-composition for hydrolyzing biomass containing comprising at least one cellulase, at least one hemicellulases and/or at least one pectinases. In a further aspect, the present invention is directed to a process for hydrolyzing biomass implementing this enzyme-composition and the use of the enzyme-composition for hydrolyzing biomass.