Animal Nutrition Division, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Jzatnagar-243 122, India
Online published on 21 January, 2012.
The effect of nutrient utilisation on feeding NH3 treated paddy straw was studied in cross-bred (Hariana x Holstein) calves. Fifteen calves were divided into three groups of five animals each, and fed on untreated paddy straw plus concentrate mixture I (18% CP) equal in weight as in T3 (T1), untreated paddy straw plus concentrate mixture II (25% CP) to meet requirements (T2) and ammonia treated (3% w/w) paddy straw plus concentrate mixture I (T3) as per requirements. The ammonia treatment significantly increased (P<0.01) the CP digestibility. The EE digestibility was lowest (P<0.01) in T1. The animals of T1 had lowest (P<0.05)N balance. The total live weight gain in 180 days duration was lower (P<0.01) in T1 than in T2 and T3.
