*Department of Feeed and dodder Technology, College of Veterinary Science, Tirupati-517 502
Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Science, Tirupati-517 502, India
Online published on 29 December, 2011.
In a 3 x 3 factorial design 9 slow release urea products containing 70% CP with ragi (Eleusine coracana) flour (79.5 parts) and urea (20.5 parts) were developed at varying screw speeds (300,350 and 400 rpm), added water levels (65, 90 and 115 ml/kg premix) at a constant feeder rate of 10 and a die siz of 6 mm using extrusion cooking. Adjudged by in vitro NH3-N production and microbial protein synthesis, 350 rpm screw speed and 90 ml added water/kg premix at a feeder rate of 10 and die size of 6 mm were the optimum conditions for the development of extruded ragurea-70 product. Extruded product had lower EDN (59.13%) value than that of unextruded one (67.15%). Lower rumen pH, reduced rumen NH3-N production with concominittant higher TVFA concentrations were observed in steers directly infused with extruded ragurea-70 product into the rumen than in those infused with unextruded product. The estimated cost for the development of extruded ragurea-70 was Rs. 320/100 kg.
