Effect of feeding urea treated wheat straw with or without sulphur on reproductive efficiency in crossbred heifers

Crosbred Leifers (25; 12–18 rn old) divided into 5 equal groups were offered either untreated wheat straw (U₀S₀) ad lib, 1.5% freshly urea treated wheat straw (U₁S₀), wheat straw was treated as in U₁S₀ but 0.5% single super phosphate (SSP) was added to urea solution before spraying (U₁S₀). In group 4, wheat straw was treated with 4% urea (w/w) at 40% moisture and packed in polythene bags for 21 days (U₂S₀) or 1.5% single super phosphate was added to urea solution before packing (U₂S₂). In addition, in all the treatment groups, concentrate was offered as per requirement. Statistically (P<0.05) lower age at first heat was observed in U₂S₂ followed by U₂S₀, which differ significantly (P<0.05) from other groups. Body weight at first heat was also lowest in treatment U₂S₂ but the differences were non-significant among all the treatment groups. The age at sexual maturity was significantly (P<0.05) lower in U₂S₂ by 62.75, 61.75, 51.35 and 61.75 days, respectively in comparison to U₀S₀, U₁S₀, U₁S₁, U₂S₀. But a nonsignificant difference was observed among the treatments for body weight at sexual maturity. The conception rate was highest in U₂S₂ followed by U₂S₀ and 11, 8, but low in U₀S₀ and U₁S₀. Feed cost/kg body weight gain was statistically comparable. It was concluded that urea treatment of wheat straw with single super phosphate as a sulphur source has potential to improve the reproductive efficiency in crossbred heifers.