The ammoniation of wheat straw through urea (3.75%) has been evaluated. The ammoniated straw contained 5.07% CP against 3.19% in untreated straw. The water soluble CP in untreated straw was only 32% against 47% in ammoniated straw; the net gain in insoluble CP moiety being 24%. The voluntary intakes of treated and untreated straws based ration were statistically similar the DMI being 1.97 and 1.93 kg/100 kg BW, respectively. There were no significant differences in the apparent digestibilities of DM, CP, CF, EE and NFE between the treatments A similar trend was observed in the apparent digestibilities of ADF, NDF, hemicellulose and cellulose. Lignin digestibility decreased significantly (P<0.05) after ammoniation. The daily intake of total N, DCP and retention of N were significantly (P<0.01) higher in the rams given treated straw. The treatment differences in the intakes of TDN and N retention as a percentage of total or digestible N were nou-significant.
