Abstract
A CRD experiment with thirty growing cross bred calves were assigned at random to three treatments rations. 1) $T_0$, 0% Urea + 20% M. O. cake, 2) $T_1$, 1% Urea + 10% M. O. cake and 3) $T_2$, 2% Urea + 0% M. O. cake to develop a rice straw based ration for ruminants. Sweetish odour and yellowish colour were observed in good recovered silage. Organic matter varied from 87.45% to 89.63% whereas crude protein varied from 14.0% to 14.5% in each treatment. No significant differences were found among the nutrient composition of the ration. The dry matter in take (DMI) and dry matter digestibility was higher in $T_0$ (0% Urea) than those of ration containing 1% ($T_1$) and 2% Urea ($T_2$). The organic matter digestibility decreases with increasing doses of urea. The crude protein & nitrogen-free-extract digestibility were found higher in the ration $T_1$ containing 1% urea whereas crude fibre digestibility and available metabolizable energy (ME) were higher in $T_0$ containing no urea as compared to $T_1$ and $T_2$. Total digestible nutrient (TDN) decreases with the increase of urea level. The highest feed efficiency was found in $T_0$ having no urea and lowest was in $T_2$. The animals gained in weights from each ration. Highest gain in weight was found in $T_0$ ration, then followed $T_1$, and $T_2$. This is due to natural protein available in M. O. cake only. It is concluded that supplemetation of urea or M. O. cake with readily available energy source as molasses upto 20% of total dietary dry matter in a complete ration may increase the intake of low quality fibrous roughage only when nitrogen and mineral are not limiting factor.