Evaluation of Fungal Treated Rice Straw at Different Fermentation Periods in Relation to Dry Matter Intake and Nutrient Utilization in Goats

Chemically treated rice straw (CTRS) with 3 per cent urea, 1 per cent $SP, 0.1 per cent CaO at 70 per cent moisture (w/w) as control and fungal (Coprinus fimetarius) treated rice straw (FTRS) simultaneously at 2 per cent culture inoculation alongwith above chemicals for 4 and 2 wks fermentation periods were evaluated in experiments 1 and 2 respectively as sole diet in crossbred goats. The data on compositional changes revealed that OM and CF contents were lower in the FTRS than CTRS. However, the CP content was higher in the FTRS than in CTRS. The DM intake was similar in the two groups. However, in experiment 2, where 10 per cent molasses was added in both groups, the DMI increased (P < 0.01) on feeding FTRSM (1067 g/d) as compared to that on feeding CTRSM (637 g/d). The digestibility coefficients for various proximate principles in both the experiments were found to vary non-signiflcantly in the two groups except that the CF digestibility (in experiment 1) was lower (P < 0 05) in FTRS than CTRS The DCP and TDN values were 9 88 and 9 74 per cent; 5128 and 38 38 per cent for the CTRS and FTRS respectively in experiment 1 while in exneriment 2 the respective values for CTRS and FTRS were 7 15 and 8 57 per cent; 50 28 and 46 70 per cent These results indicate that feeding value of rice straw could be improved by reducing the fermentation period from 4 to 2 wks under non-sterile conditions.