Effect of Urea Treatment of Rice Straw on Chemical Composition and In Vitro Dry Matter Digestibility

Chopped rice straw sample (500 g each) were treated with 0, 3, 4 and 5 percent urea (on DM basis) at two moisture levels (30 and 40%) and kept in polythene bags for 30 d. CP values increased progressively (P<0.01) with levels of urea used for treatment. The OM, EE, CF and TA were neither affected with urea nor with moisture levels. Treatment of rice straw with urea and moisture did not affect ADF and cellulose contents, however, the values of NDF, hemicellulose and Hgnin showed a decreasing trend with increased level of urea. The IVDMD of straw increased significantly (P<0.01) with the increase in urea level at 40% moisture.