Urea treated sunflower straw and mulberry bay in the rations of crossbred cattle

Abstract

Urea treatment of ground sunflower (Helianthus annuus), straw 4% urea, 50% moisture) increased the protein content by 197.5 % and retained 61.4 % ofthe added urea nitrogen. Digestion and metabolic studies were conducted on 4 crossbred bulls in a 4 x 4 latin square design by feeding (1) sunflower straw ad, lib.(2) urea treated sunflower straw(OIS) ad. lib (3) UTS chopped mulberry (Morus alba) hay in 3:1 ratio (on DM basis) ad lib. and(4) UTS and chopped mulberry hay in 1:1 ratio (on OM based) ad lib. apart from 1.5 g concentrates for all 4 groups. Voluntary feed and water intakes were comparable on all the rations. UTS increased (P<0.01) the digestibilities of DM, CP, cell wall contents and balances of nitrogen and calcium. Supplementation of mulberry hay to urea treated sunflower straw further improved the digestibilities of all the nutrients. Positive nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus balances were recorded in all the animals on all the rations. The digestible crude protein and total digestible nutrient contents increased from rations 1 to 4. The blood urea nitrogen increased gradually from ration 1 to ration 4 and peaked at 4 hr post feeding on all the rations.