Abstract 135

Kundu,-SS

Div. Dairy Cattle Nutrition, National Dairy Res. Inst., Karnal 132001, Haryana, India.

Tropical-Agriculture,-UK. 1989, 66: 4, 321-325; 29 ref.

Triticum aestivum straw was treated with 3.2, 4.3 or 5.3 g urea and 58.5 ml water/100 g straw DM and ensiled for 1 month at ambient temp. (26 ñ 2øC). Cell wall components were not affected by treatment but CP content, and nylon bag DM degradability (NBDMD) after 48 h, increased with urea treatment (no significant difference between urea levels). In a further experiment, straw was treated with 3.2 g urea/100 g straw for 1, 1.5, 2, 3 or 9 months with an additional 0-42.1 ml water (100 g straw DM). Max. NBDMD measured using rumen fistulated adult male Murrah buffaloes was obtained with urea treatment for 1 month with addition of ò40 ml water. NBDMD decreased with >1 month treatment. In a 3rd trial straw was treated with 0-108.9 ml water/100 g straw with or without treatment with 3.2 g urea. NBDMD decreased with increased addition of water but was higher with than without added urea. In a farm scale trial wheat straw was treated with 3.2 kg urea/100 kg straw + 58.5 litres water and ensiled for 1 month. Adult Murrah buffaloes were fed ad lib. with untreated straw, the ensiled treated straw or with straw sprayed with urea immediately before feeding. The 1 month treatment with urea gave an increase in DM digestibility and intake by 19 and 48%, resp. Despite total digestible nutrient requirements being met by treated straw, animals had a negative N balance.