Effect of Feeding Alkali Treated Rice Husk as Partial Replacement of Roughage on Nutrient Utilization in Cross-Bred Calves

Twenty Karan-Frles calves (12-15 in; 86490 kg) divided into 4 equal groups were fed concentrate mixture to meet their DCP requirements along with wheat straw, a part of which was replaced with 7.5 % NaOH treated rice husk at 0 (A), 33 (B), 66 (C) and 100 (D) p)r cent levels for 179 d. DM consumptton was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in A than B, C and D However, the digestibility increased -due to incorporation of alkali treated rice husk in the ration. Similarly digestibility of NDF, ABF and HC were also higher in groups where alkali treated rice husk was incorporated than in A. However, cellulose digestibility was not affected which indicated that the digestibility of cellulose from alkali treated rice husk was at par with that of wheat straw. The DCP and TDN of the alkali treated rice husk were 0.96 and 43.08 per cent on DM basis. The results sndicated the incorporation of alkali treated rice husk in ration at graded levels increased the nutrient digestibilities and improved the Ca and P utilization.