Total Volatile Fatty Acid and Bacterial Production Rates as Affected by Rations Containing Untreated or Ammoniated Straw With or Without Impregnation of Urea and Molasses

Two experiments were conducted to study the effect of feeding aramoniated straw on ruminal total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) and bacterial production rates. In experiment I, nine adult male Murrah buffaloes fitted with rumen cannulae were divided into three groups of three each. Animals were offered untreated, 3 per cent ammoniated and 4 per cent ammoniated wheat straw as basal roughage in groups A, B and C, respectively. Protein requirements were met through concentrate mixture. Experiment II was also conducted similarly except that all the straw diets were impregnated with 2 per cent urea and 10 per cent molasses. In both the experiments, NH₃-N levels in strained rumen liquor (SRL) were significantly (P<0.01) lower in ammoniated straw fed groups. The bacterial production rates in the rumen (mg/min) were singnificantly higher in groups fed ammoniated straw in experiment I (P<0.01) and II (P<0.5). TVFA production rate (m mole/min) were significantly (P<0.05) higher in groups B and C as compared to group A in experiment I. However no significant difference was observed among different treatments in experiment II. The bacterial production rates were significantly correlated with TVFA and ammonia-N concentration in the rumen. A multiple regression equation relating bacteria production rate with NH₃-N and TVFA concentration was developed.