Department of Animal Nutrition, Birsa Agricultural University Veterinary College Campus, Ranchi-834007, India
Online published on 5 January, 2012.
Twelve lactating crossbred (HFxlocal) cows were divided into 3 groups of 4 each. Chaffed paddy straw (UPS) was fed either as such or after treating with 4% urea at 50% moisture level stored for 28d (UTPS). UPS and UTPS were fed ad lib to control (T1) and experimental (T2) and group T3 Standard concentrate mixture @ 1kg/2.5kg milk plus additional allowance of 1.5kg for maintenance was fed to each cow under both the groups. Metabolic trial of 7d duration was conducted during the mid of experimental period lasting 180 d. The average milk yield/d was 11.04, 12.62 and 11.93 1 in groups T1, T2 and T3, respectively. The average Increase in milk yield in 180 d over initial milk yield in corresponding groups was recorded to be 0.27, 1.88 and 2.431. The increase In milk yield was significantly (P<0.01) higher in groups T2 and T3 over T1 (control group). The animals of control group maintained body weights where as the eaimals in T2 and T3 gained considerably. The cost of production per kg miik worked out to be Rs. 1.73, 1.67 and 1.48 for groups T1, T2 and T3, respectively. It was concluded that feeding of urea/ammonia treated paddy straw with even 75% of the total required concentrate, was advantageous for miik production.
