Effect of Urea Supplementation or Ammoniation of Wet Maize Bran Mixed with Paddy Straw on Nutrient Utilization in Buffalo Calves

Fresh maize bran (MB, 80% moisture) was treated with urea at 0 (T₁), 2% urea (T₂). 4% urea (T₃) and 2 % common’salt (T₄) and stored in sealed polythene bags sor 1m. Similarly, MB in combination with paddy straw (1:1) was treated with urea at 0(T₅), 2% (T₆) and 4% (T₇) levels and stored similarly. The MB was also mixed with paddy straw (2:1) and treated with urea at 0 (T₈), 2% (T₉) and 4% (T₁₀) levels and similarly stored. Physical and chemical characteristics of ensiled materials indicated that urea and common salt were effective for preservation of MB as such. The ammoniation of MB mixed with paddy straw also Improved the chemical characteristics of the combined feeds. Three separate feeding trials each on 6 Murrah buffalo calves (24-26m; 230-290 kg) on feeding either ammonlated (4% urea, 50% moisture, Im) paddy straw (PR-30, freshly harvested) alone (B) or 2% urea supplemented mixture of MB and paddy straw (1:1, C) or 4% urea treated mixture of MB and paddy straw (1:1, D) for 21d each were conducted. It was observed that the DM intake on C was lowest (P<0.01) compared to B and D. Nutrient digestibilities, except CP and hemicellulose were significantly higher on D than those observed on C and that of hemicellulose on B than on other feeds. N balance was negative on B but improved significantly on other feeds. These results indicated that fresh MB could be preserved by treatment with urea (ammoniation) or common salt. Further, the maize bran could be utilized by mixing it with paddy straw In equal proportion and subsequent ammoniation with 4% urea as feed for buffalo calves.