Dairy Cattle Nutrition Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal-132 001 India.
Online published on 29 December, 2011.
Nutritional quality of leaf and stem fractions of straw from five varieties of paddy namely, Jaya, DET-8580, Pusa Basmati, Deshi Basmati and HKR-126 grown under uniform agronomic conditions were compared. The overall percent OM and CP contents were higher (P<0.01) in leaf than in stem fraction. The constituents of cell wall and ash contents varied significantly (P<0.01) between leaf and stem as well as amongst cultivars. The IVOMD and NBOMD of leaf fraction of five varieties varied to the extent of 6.0 and 7.23 percentage unit, whereas in stem fraction the same varied by 8.94 and 3.16 percentage unit, respectively. CP and NDS contents In leaves were significantly (P<0.05) and positively correlated with IVOMD, whereas NDF and ash contents were negatively (P<0.05) correlated. Total gas production and rate of gas production from stem fraction were 79.60±1.32ml/0.5 g sample and 1.66±0.03 ml/h, respectively. For leaf fraction the corresponding values were 69.80±1.81 ml/0.5 g sample and 1.46±0.04ml/h. It is concluded that large variations exist in chemical composition among straw fractions as well as different cultivars of paddy straw. The highest nutritive value was noticed Instraw of Deshi Basrnati, whereas straw of Jaya had lowest value. The CP, NDS and NDF contents of straw leaves can be used for predicting the nutritive value of paddy straw.
