Effect of Dietary Levels of Ammoniated Wheat Straw with Rice Bran on Rumen Metabolism in Buffaloes

Three complete diets (D₁, D₂, D₃) containing 50, 60 and 70 per cent ammoniated wheat straw and 37, 27 and 17 per cent deoiled rice bran, respectively, alongwith molasses (10%), mineral mixture (2%) and common salt (1%) were fed to three rumen fistulated male buffaloes ad libitum in a 3 x 3 latin square design. The rumen liquor samples collected at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 h post-feeding were analysed for nitrogen (N) fractions, total volatile fatty acids and pH. Total N and non-protein N peaked at 6 h post-feeding, whereas trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-precipitable N and ammonia N were at peak at 8 h post-feeding. Significantly higher (P < 0.05) ammonia and TCA precipitable nitrogen were recorded in rumen liquor of the animals offered highest level of ammoniated wheat straw.