Flow Rate of Digesta from the Rumen of Cattle Fed Wheat Straw Supplemented with Urea-Molasses-Mineral Block Licks

Twenty rumen fistulated crossbred (Holstein x Sahiwal; Browa Swiss x Sahiwal cattte 2–3 yrs.; 186–286 kg) were randomly divided into 5 equal groups. The animals in group T₁ were fed only wheat straw (ad-lib) while in other groups wheat straw was supplemented with concentrate mixture (T₂), urea molasses-mineral block CUMMB) lick type I (T₃), type II (T₄) or, type III (T₅). These UMMB licks differed in ingredient composition. Total DM intake mas increased by 60, 35, 45 and 40% in T₂ to T₅ viz-a-viz T₁ DM contents in rumen at 0 h has significantly higher (P < 0.01) in T₁ Tbere was no significant difference observed among treatments for rumen fluid volume. DM passage rate and liquid digesta flow rate were accelerated by two folds on supplementation of either concentrate mixture or UMMB licks. Total digesta flow rate (% per h) in T₁ to T₅ as 1.9, 3.8, 3.2, 3.5 and 3.5, respectively. The results indicated twofold increase in solid and liquid disesta flow rates on UMMB lick supplementation to wheat straw and improvements were comparable with those on concentrate supplementation. Amoung the 3 types of UMMB Type II & III were better.