Body Composition, Nutrient Utilization and Blood Constituents of Growing Buffalo Bulls Fed Urea and/or Lime Treated Wheat Straw Based Diets

An experiment was conducted un 18 growing huffalu hulis divided into 3 eqiiiil groups for 154 d and ted on 3 diets: untreated wheat straw + concentrate (WSC), Urea-ammoniated (4%, w/w) straw + concentrute (UTWSC) and urea with lime (3% +4%, w/w) treated straw + concentrate (LLTWSC) in groups T₁, T₂ and T₃, respectively. All animals were given 4 kg/d of green maize. The body composition was determined using antipyrine dilution technique of 4 animuls from each group at the end of metabolism trial. Jugular blood samples were collected from all animals at 0 50,100 and 154 d, respectively. The results revealed that DM intakes were higher (P< 0.05) in groups T₂ and T₃ than in T₁, the respective values were 8. 33 ± 0. 15, 8. 96 ± 0.20 and 7. 73 ± 0.20 kg/d. The gain in weight during metabolic trial were 430.17±27.48, 526.75±25.37 and 520.28±24.98 g/d in groups T₁, T₂ and T₃, respectively. The gross energetic efficiency were insignificantly higher in treatment groups T₂ and T₃ than in groups T₁. However, dietary treatment did not influence body composition. The protein retention (g/d) was higher (P< 0.05) in group T₂ than T₁. The results of the serum calcium concentration showed significant efiect in different treatment groups, but not the serum urea. The above results indicated that treatment of straw increased the body energy gain and gross energetic efficiency of energy on UTWSC and ULTWSC diets without affecting the body composition.