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Nutrient Utilisation and Rumen Fermentation Pattern in Murrah Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) Fed Urea and Urea Plus Hydrochloric Acid Treated Wheat Straw |
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R. S. Dass, A. K. Verma, U. R. Mehra, D. S. Sahu |
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| Abstract |
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Wheat straw was treated on laboratory scale with 4% urea at a moisture level of 50% along with different amount of HCl to fix various levels of ammonia (30, 40, 50 and 60%) and stored for 4 weeks. Result revealed a significant (p<0.01) increase in CP content of the samples where HCl was added. The CP content of the straw was only 7.8%, which increased to 14.1, 16.0, 15.0 and 15.2% with the addition of acid. Similarly the concentrations of NDF, ADF and hemicellulose was significantly different due to HCl addition. The level of HCl recommended was to trap 30% ammonia as there was not significant difference in CP content of straw due to addition of 4 levels of acids. Results of in vivo experiment conducted on nine buffaloes divided randomly into three groups of three animals in each revealed no significant difference in the intake of DM, OM, NDF, ADF, cellulose and hemicellulose in group I (ammoniated straw), group II (HCl treated ammoniated straw) and group III (HCl treated ammoniated straw + 1 kg barley grain), but the intake of CP was significantly (p<0.01) more in group III as compared to other 2 groups. The digestibility of DM, OM and CP was significantly (p<0.01) more in groups where HCl treated straw was fed as compared to only ammoniated straw fed group, whereas there was no significant difference in the digestibility of NDF, ADF and cellulose in 3 groups. Intake was significantly higher of nitrogen (p<0.05), calcium (p<0.01) and phosphorus (p<0.01) in group III as compared to other two groups. Animals in all the 3 groups showed positive nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus balance, though the balances of all the 3 nutrients were significantly higher in group III as compared to other 2 groups. Rumen fermentation study conducted in 3 rumen fistulated buffaloes in 3 3 latin square design offering the same 3 diets as in group I to III revealed that rumen pH was alike statistically in 3 groups and at various time intervals. The mean ammonia-N concentration was significantly (p<0.01) more in group II and III as compared to group I. The mean TVFA concentration (mM/100 ml SRL) were 6.46, 7.84 and 8.47 in 3 groups respectively and different statistically (p<0.01). Results revealed no significant difference in the activities of carboxy methylcellulase, urease or protease at both the time of sampling (0 h and 4 h) in all the 3 groups of animals. |
| Keywords:
Wheat Straw; Urea; Hydrochloric Acid; Nitrogen; Murrah Buffaloes; Rumen Fermentation |
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