Department of Animal Science, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 203 145, India
Online published on 5 January, 2012.
Four rumen fistulated bullocks were used in a switch over design, to study the ruminal biochemical parameters by feeding urea at different frequency. In treatment A and B urea was mixed in concentrate mixture and in treatment C and 1) urea was mixed in green maize fodder. Bullocks of treatment A and C were fed twice, while those of B and D thrice daily. Restricted green maize fodder @ 1 kg DM/200 kg body weight and ad libitum wheat straw was offered to all the animals. The ammonia (NH3) and total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) levels rose sharply after feeding. Thereafter, NH, and TVFA concentration decreased gradually and were moderate with more frequent feeding than in the twice a day feeding. Microbial protein was more when urea was fed thrice a day as compared to twice a day and when urea was fed with green maize. Thus, this study indicate utilization of urea was more efficient if it was fed more frequently along with green maize.
