Evaluation of Complete Rations Containing Urea Treated Palm Press Fibre by In Vitro and In Sacco Techniques

Palm press fibre (PPF), a by-product of oil palm industry has been evaluated to explore its potential feeding value as a replacement for conventional roughage sources like paddy straw. Ammoniation of PPF was done with 4 per cent urea at 40 per cent moisture level with incubation for 20 days. Nine complete rations were formulated replacing paddy straw with untreated/urea treated PPF at a gradient of 25 per cent The positive effects of inclusion of urea treated PPF in the complete rations were reflected with increased IVDMD, in sacco DM disappearance and EDDM values from 44.22, 35.96 and 34.24 per cent to 59.96, 48.52 and 41.43 per cent, respectively as compared to complete rations containing untreated PPF. Results of in vitro and in sacco evaluation studies indicated that urea treated PPF appears to be a potential substitute for conventional roughage sources like paddy straw for ruminants.