*Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Mathura, 281001 (U.P.)
Animal Nutrition Division Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar (UP), 243122, India
Online published on 29 December, 2011.
Sixteen Murrah buffalo calves were divided Into four groups of 4 each. Control group 1 was fed on conventional concentrate mixture and wheat straw, whereas in experimental groups, about 3© percent CP requirement was met ttirough urea supplemented concentrate mixture (group 2), urea sprinkled on wheat straw (group 3) or as urea ammoniated straw (group 4). The digestibility of gross energy was significantly (F<0.01) higher in groups 1,3 and 4 than in group 2. Intake of DE in group 4 was 20.6 percent higher than in group 2, Energy loss through urine and methane was of low magnitude and varied from 0.77 to 1.38 percent and 7.14 to 7.57 percent, respectively of gross energy intake. There was a substantial improvement in the ME value of the ration on urea-ammoniated wheat straw (group 4) than control and consequently ME intake was 24 percent higher as compared to group 2.
