Effect of feeding ammonia (urea) treated baled wheat straw with different levels of concentrate on nutrients utilization and growth of crossbred heifers

Abstract

Crossbred heifers (16), 8-15 months old and 57-148 kg body weight, were divided into 4 comparable groups on the basis of weight and age. Treatments were untreated baled straw ad lib, and concentrate mixture to fulfil 100% CP and energy requirements (Tâ‚), ammonia (urea) treated baled wheat straw ad lib. and concentrate mixture to provide 100% CP and energy (Tâ‚‚), 75% CP and energy (T₃), and 125% CP and energy requirements (Tâ‚„).The highest (3.72 kg/1OO kg body weight) and lowest (2.88 kg/100 kg body weight) DMI were recorded in urea treated baled wheat straw diet and concentrate mixture in Tâ‚„ and T₃, respectively. Digestible dry matter intake values were 67.93,66.80,53.74 and 75.93 g/Kgwâ°â·âµ for Tâ‚ Tâ‚‚, T₃ and Tâ‚„ respectively. The straw DMI was 52.93,68.83,66.01 and 77.90 g/kgwâ°â·âµ for Tâ‚, Tâ‚‚, T₃ and Tâ‚„ respectively. There was no significant difference among treatments on total DMI, roughage DMI, CPI, DCP and digestible energy intake as percent body weight. Total energy intake (KCal/kgwâ°â·âµ) Tâ‚ was significantly higher (P