Effect of Modified Practice of Urea Supplementation on Nutrient Utilization from Wheat Straw Based Diet in Buffaloes

Twelve mature male buffaloes (3 yrs; 420 kg) divided into 4 equal groups were fed 750g deoiled groundnut meal (DOGNM), 1 kg molasses and 120 g urea dissolved in 500 ml water, then mixed together with wheat straw given once daily (T₁) or as such without mixing in wheat straw at2h before giving DOGNM in the morning (T₂) or T₁ diet divided into 2 parts at 8h interval (T₃) or T₂ diet divided into two parts at 8h interval (T₄) for 45d. The DM and OM digestibilities significantly (P<0.05) improved in T₂ and T₄ than in T₁ but comparable to T₃. The CF digestibility also improved significantly (P<0.01) in T₂, T₃ and T₄ as compared to T₁ Similarly, the N retention was significantly (P<0.01) higher in T₄ than in T₁ and T₂. Urinary N excretion as percent absorbed N also decreased significantly in T₄, indicating thereby its better utilization. The results indicated that the feeding of dietary protein and urea molasses separately twice a day improved the nutrient digestibility as well as N retention in buffaloes.