Department of Animal Nutrition & Feed Technology, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, C.S. Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Mathura-281 002, India.
Online published on 21 January, 2012.
Attempts were made to improve the nutritive value of wheat straw by urea treatment. A 4% aquous urea solution was sprinkled over 100 kg of wheat straw at moisturization level of 55%. After thorough mixing the straw was stored in air tight container for 4 weeks. The CP content of treated straw was 9.53% as against 2.39% in untreated straw.
Metabolism trial conducted on Haryana calves fed on treated wheat straw showed that the digestibility coefficients of DM, CP, EE, CF, NFE and total carbohydrates were 48.15 ± 2.20, 67.04±1.78, 64.65±2.78, 59.07±3.35, 44.95±2.16 and 51.87±1.95% respectively. N, Ca and P balances were positive and averaged 14.10±1.35, 2.32±0.29 and 1.12± 1.18 g, respectively. The treated straw was found to supply 6.36% DCP, 47.98% TDN and was comparable to any maintenance type non-legume hay.
