Feeding value of Urea-ammoniated lentil (Lens culinaris) straw in the diet of growing Barbari Bucks

Lentil (Lens culinaris) straw was urea ammoniated for its nutritional improvement and evaluated as growth ration for kids. Urea ammoniation increased the CP (9.21 vs.14.13%) and NFE (39.87 vs. 42.98%) and reduced the CF (39.59 vs. 31.49%) contents of straw. Ten Barbari bucks (17.63 ± 2.13 kg, 6–8m) were divided into two groups of five each and were fed either lentil straw (LS) or urea ammoniated lentil straw (ALS) ad libitum along with mineral and vitamin supplements. Digestibility of EE (P<0.05) or ADF and NDF (P<0.01) increased, while that of CP decreased by ammoniation of straw. Dry matter, DCP (P<0.01), TDN, DE, ME and NE (P<0.05) intake/kgW^0.75 were higher in kids fed urea ammoniated lentil straw. Mean daily nitrogen balance was negative (−1.38g) in the kids fed on LS but it was positive (1.50g) in kids fed ALS. Concomitantly, the kids fed ammoniated lentil straw had a growth rate of 47g/day as against a loss of body weight (−34 g/d), observed in the kids fed LS. Ammoniation also increased the TDN (55.46 vs. 56.76%) and DCP (5.48 vs.7.26%) contents of LS. It was concluded that nutritive value of lentil straw can improved by its ammoniation, and its feeding to growing kids could support an average daily gain of about 50g.