Voluntary Feed Intake and Nutrient Utilization in Buffalo Bullocks Fed Untreated and Urea (Ammonia) Treated Berseem and Oat Straws

Oat (Avena sativa) and berseem (Trifolium alexandrium) straws were treated with urea (4% w/w, moisture 40% and ensiled for four weeks) were given ad lib to sixteen Murrah buffalo bullocks(about335kgb.wt.)infour groups of four each viz: untreated berseem straw (BS); urea (ammonia) treated berseem straw (TBS); untreated oat straw (OS) and urea (ammonia) treated oat straw (TOS). Voluntary feed intakes of the animals were 4.43,5.85,4.79 and 6.43 kg, respectively in BS, TBS, OS and TOS groups. Apparent digestiblities (% on respective treatments) of dry matter (45.24,48.70,48.60 and 55.62); CP (36.28, 54.14,37.18 and 65.69)5 CF (45.19, 48.58, 46.50 and 51.26) and NFE (53.50, 55.31, 52.57 and 57.36) were more for treated than untreated straws. Live weight changes, feed intake and nitrogen retention data showed that feeding urea (ammonia) treated berseem or oat straw ad lib can satisfactorily meet the maintenance requirements of buffalo bullocks.