Animal Nutrition Division, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar243122, India
*Present address : Department of Animal Nutrition, Assam Agricultural University, Khannapara, Guwahati 781022 (Assam)
Online published on 20 January, 2012.
Twelve adult crossbred (Holstein x Hariana) cattle (about 3½ yrs), divided into 4 groups of 3 animals each, were fed ammonia treated paddy straw ad lib (T1), untreated paddy straw ad lib (T2), ammonia treated paddy straw ad lib plus 1 kg crushed maize (T3) and untreated paddy straw ad lib plus 1.25 kg groundnut cake (T4) to investigate the effect of ammonia treatment of paddy straw on nutrient utilization.
The ammonia treatment significantly (P < 0.01) increased CP content of paddy straw to about three-folds. DM intake and CP digestibility significantly (P < 0.01) increased due to ammonia treatment of paddy straw. The OM digestibility was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in T2 than other treatment groups. N retention (per cent) in T2 was negative and differed significantly from all other treatments. The animals under T1 T3 and T4 gained body weights whereas those in T2 lost.
