*Animal Nutrition Division, Central sheep & Wool Research Institute, Avikanagae, 304501 (Raj.)
Department of Animal Science, G.B. Pant University of Agric. and Tech. Pantnagar, Nainital, 263145, (U.P.) India
Online published on 29 December, 2011.
Twenty four crossbred heifers, divided into 4 equal groups, were fed restricted (1.8% of b.wt.) and ad lib. quantity of urea treated wheat and rice straw aiongwith concentrate mixture to meet their remaining protein and energy requirements. In addition, each animal received 2 kg green sorghum, 30g each of mineral mixture and common salt. Voluntary intake of DM was significantly (P<0.05) higher on treated rice straw fed ad lib. compared to wheat straw. The digestibility coefficients of DM, NDF, cellulose and hemicellulose differed significantly (F<0.05) between restricted and ad lib, feeding and was non significantly different at the same level of feeding. The digestibilities of ADF and CP were similar among the treatments.
