Department of Animal Sciences, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263 145, India
Online published on 5 January, 2012.
Effect of 4 levels of moisture and 5 curing periods on the effectiveness of ammonia (urea) treatment of 4 coarse roughages was evaluated. The effect of moisture content and curing period was not similar in all the roughages. The best treatment combinations were, 35% moisture with 4 and-2 weeks of curing for sorghum and maize stovers and 45% moisture with 5 and 4 weeks of curing for bajra stovers and dry kans grass (Saccharum spoittaneum), respectively. The response to ammonia (urea) treatment in terms of increment in DMI.) was greatest in dry kans grass (145% of that in rice straw) followed in order by maize (93%), sorghum (78%) and bajra (73%) stovers. The response to treatment in terms of increment in CP content of the roughage was, however highest in maize stover (135% of that in rice straw) followed in order by stovers of bajra (120 %), sorghum (113%) and dry kans grass (84%).
