Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, G B Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263145, India
1 Deptt. of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering
2 Deptt. of Agronomy
Crossbred heifers (16; 25–28 m old of 176.3 ± 4.6 kg BW) were divided into four equal groups. Control group (T1) was offered untreated baled wheat straw (BWS) ad lib supplement with concentrate mixture to meet 100% CP and energy requirement where as T2, T3, and T4 were fed urea treated baled wheat straw (UBWS) ad lib supplemented with concentrate mixture @100, 75, 125% CP and energy requirements, respectively for 250 days. The total DM, CP and GE intakes were statistically comparable in all groups, however the intake of UBWS (T2 to T4) was higher (P<0.05) as compare to BWS (T1). Similar trend was observed in DM digestibility. The digestibility of CP was depressed (P<0.05) whereas that of NDF and ADF was improved (P<0.05) in groups fed UBWS (T2-T4) as compared to those fed BWS (T1). The daily gain in body weight was statistically comparable in all the groups. It was concluded that UBWS can replace 25% concentrate from the diet of crossbred herifers, without affecting the nutrient utilization or growth rate of such animals.
Urea treatment, Baled wheat straw, Nutrient utilization, Growth, Crossbred heifers
