• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.1583-1591
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• 2003

The influence of varying levels of urea and additives on nitrogen (N) retention and chemical composition of wheat straw was studied. The wheat straw was treated with 4, 6 and 8% urea and ensiled with 1.5, 2 and 2.5% of acetic or formic acid and 2, 4 and 6% of corn steep liquor (CSL) or acidified molasses for 15 days. The N content of wheat straw was significantly different across all treatments. The N content of urea treated wheat straw was increased with the increasing level of urea. The N content was higher in urea treated wheat straw ensiled with acetic or formic acid as compared to urea treated wheat straw ensiled without these organic acids. The N content of urea treated wheat straw was further enhanced when it was ensiled with CSL or acidified molasses. This effect was significant across all levels of urea used to treat the wheat straw. Nitrogen retention in urea treated wheat straw was decreased linearly as the urea level was increased to treat the wheat straw. The N content was increased linearly when higher levels of CSL or acidified molasses were used to ensile the urea treated wheat straw. Most of the N in urea treated wheat straw was held as neutral detergent insoluble N (NDIN). The NDIN content was increased linearly with the increasing levels of urea and additives. The neutral detergent fiber (NDF) contents were higher in urea treated wheat straw ensiled with acetic or formic acid as compared to urea treated wheat straw ensiled without additive. The NDF content further increased in urea treated wheat straw ensiled with CSL and acidified molasses. The entire increase in NDF content was because of fiber bound N. The hemicellulose content of urea treated wheat straw ensiled with CSL or acidified molasses was higher as compared to urea treated wheat straw ensiled with acetic or formic acid. The acid detergent fiber content of urea treated wheat straw ensiled with or without additives remained statistically non-significant. The cellulose contents of wheat straw was linearly reduced when urea level was increased from 4 to 6 and 8% to treat the wheat straw. This effect was further enhanced when urea treated wheat straw was ensiled with different additives. The results of the present study indicated that fermentable carbohydrates might improve the Nitrogen retention and bring the favorable changes in physiochemical nature of wheat straw. However, biological evaluation of urea treated wheat straw ensiled with fermentable carbohydrates is required.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.1200-1204
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• 1999

Two experiments were conducted to study the effect of urea treatment of rice and wheat straw on feed intake, dry matter (DM) digestibility and milk yield of lactation buffaloes in their late lactation under farmers' management conditions in the western hills of Nepal during 1995 and 1997. Dry matter intake (DMI) from urea treated rice and wheat straw was not improved significantly (p<0.05) nor the total DMI of the lactating buffaloes was improved significantly. However, feeding urea treated rice straw increased straw DMI by 14.2% and total DMI by 10.63% units over the untreated rice straw. Similarly, the increase in straw and total DMI were 20.18 and 17.40% units over the untreated wheat straw fed animals. Although there was no significant effect of urea treatment of both straw on DM digestibility, it was higher for treated than untreated straw at all locations. An overall increment of 18.1% units for rice straw and 13.3% units for wheat straw was observed. There was a significant effect (p<0.01) of feeding urea treated rice and wheat straw on the milk yield of lactating buffaloes during late lactation under farmers conditions. Post experiment milk yield was also significantly (p<0.05) higher for the animals fed treated straw in both the experiments. Buffalo milk yield was also significantly affected by breed (p<0.01), location (p<0.01) and parity (p<0.01) of the animals. General response of the farmers about the technology and their observed effect on animal performance was also very positive.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.1049-1053
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• 1999

Chopped wheat straw (0.5-1.5 cm) was subjected to different treatment combinations in a $5{\times}4$ factorial arrangement involving the five levels of urea (0, 2, 3, 4 and 5%, w/w) and four levels of lime (0, 2, 4 and 6%, w/w) at 50% moisture and kept for 3 wk reaction period at about $35{^{\circ}C}$ in laboratory. Treated wheat straw samples were analyzed to study the associative effect of urea and lime on chemical composition, in sacco and in vitro digestibilities. Results showed that cell wall constituents (CWC) solubilized significantly (p<0.01) due to urea and lime treatment on one hand and substantially increase the crude protein (CP) on the other in wheat straw. The main effect on synergism of both chemicals was noticed on organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), hemicellulose (HC), acid detergent lignin (ADL) and silica by solubilising their contents as a result of considerable increase in cell contents in treated wheat straw. The respective decreases were 5.45, 13.0, 37.23, 44.95 and 26.16% in different treatment combinations. The most interesting feature of the treatment was evident by increase in ash content on each level of lime application. CP content increase up to 12.78% due to urea treatment in comparison with untreated wheat straw (2.56%). The effect of solubilization of structural carbohydrates and increased crude protein due to synergistic effect of urea and lime were clearly seen on improved digestibility of OM and DM. The increase in ISOMD, ISDMD, and IVDMD were 21.67, 21.67, 16.24, and 17.5 units. The increase in digestibility were relative to additions of both chemicals and digestibility values increased with increasing levels of urea plus lime concentration in different treatment combination. The maximum improvement was noticed at 4% urea and 4% lime levels at 50% moisture for 3 wk reaction period in treated wheat straw.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.563-566
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• 1995

To improve the nutritive value of wheat straw it as treated with 0, 3, 4 and 5 percent levels of urea, 0 and 4 percent level of alkali at 40, 50 and 60 percent moisture levels and stored at room temperature. Total nitrogen contents of the straw increased significantly, from 0.77 percent with no urea treatment to 0.87, 1.16 and 1.19 percent with 3, 4 and 5 percent urea levels, respectively. Percent retention of nitrogen was 63.73 percent. Alkali treatment at 4 percent level, lowered significantly the crude fibre contents of the straw from 41.86 percent in control to 40.21 percent in the treated straw. Moisture level of 40 percent significantly lowered (p < 0.05) the crude fibre contents. Total ash content of straw increased significantly by urea and alkali treatment. Alkali treatment improved significantly the sodium contents also. The results of the study indicated that most beneficial results were obtained with 4 percent urea, 4 percent alkali at 50 percent moisture level.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.1133-1136
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• 2000

Wheat straw was treated with 4 per cent urea at a moisture level of 50 per cent alongwith different levels of boric acid viz. 1, 2, 3 and 4 per cent, under laboratory conditions to know the impact of boric acid on ammonia-N fixation in the straw. Murrah buffaloes were used for determining the disappearance of dry matter, CP and fibre constituents by nylon bag technique. Ammoniation increased CP content of wheat straw, which increased further due to addition of boric acid. Low level of boric acid (1%) had no adverse effect on fibre constituents disappearance but at higher levels there was a depressioon in the disappearance of fibre coonstituents. It can be concluded that low level of boric acid was sufficient to trap the excess ammonia released during urea ammoniation of wheat straw without affecting other constituents and their disappearance in the rumen of buffaloes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.1063-1069
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• 1999

Wheat straw samples (3-4 cm) were sprayed with solutions of urea (U) alone or with a dry addition of garden soil (GS), midden soil (MS), soya bean meal (SM) or jack bean meal (JM) as crude urease sources and with a pure urease (UR) enzyme. Each of the urease sources was included at two levels: 30 and 60 g/kg except pure urease, which was added at a level of 2.5 & 5.0 g/kg treated straw dry matter. Untreated straw without urease source was used as a control. After treatment, samples were sealed in polythene bags and stored for 2, 7, 14, 21 and 35 days at $19{^{\circ}C}$. The urease sources, their levels and treatment time produced significant effects on ammonia production (p<0.01). The addition of urease offered more flexibility in hydrolyzing urea in the shortest possible time. Incorporation of soya bean and jack bean meal was effective in reducing the modified acid detergent fiber (MADF) content of straw and the same time increasing organic matter (OM) digestibility. Overall effect, addition of soya bean to urea at a ratio of 1:1 appeared to be the most satisfactory urease source for the treatment of urea and wheat straw.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.195-204
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• 2002

The objective of this study was to examine the impact of three categories of supplements on intake and diet induced difference on degradation of straw substrates. Sixteen crossbred cattle fitted with rumen cannula were randomly divided into 4 equal groups. Animals were fed on wheat straw ad libitum without any supplement except mineral mixture (control; $T_1$) or supplemented with concentrate mixture (CS; $T_2$) or green Lucerne (GLS; $T_3$) or urea-molasses block lick (ULS; $T_4$). Total dry matter intake in $T_2$, $T_3$ and $T_4$ was increased by 70, 54 and 49%, respectively compared to $T_1$ which was only 1.55 kg/100 kg B.Wt. Other than control animals, straw intake was less on $T_3$ than $T_2$ or $T_4$. In Sacco degradation of untreated and urea treated wheat or paddy straw in different treatments indicated that the supplements had a significant (p<0.01) impact on rapidly soluble (A) and insoluble but potentially degradable (B) fractions of straw. Urea treatment increased fraction-A but, provision of supplement improved fraction-B also. Effective degradation (ED) of OM was better on $T_2$. Rate of degradation (C) of OM and CWC was dependent on diet and type of straw but hemicellulose and cellulose were related to latter factor only. ED of cell wall carbohydrates (CWC) was similar in $T_2$ and $T_4$ but higher than $T_3$. CS was more effective in improving the degradation of both untreated and urea treated straw while ULS was effective on the former only. CS had more impact on superior quality straw while contrary was true with ULS. Although GLS improved intake and degradability of untreated and urea treated straws, its bulkiness affected the straw intake compared to other supplements.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.1690-1695
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• 2001

Wheat straw was treated on laboratory scale with 4% urea at a moisture level of 50% along with different amounts of acetic acid (AA) to fix various levels of ammonia nitrogen (15, 30, 45 and 60%) evolved from urea and stored for 4 weeks. Chemical composition of the treated samples revealed a significant (p<0.01) increase in N content of the samples where AA was added. The N content of the ammoniated straw was only 1.21% which increased to 2.58 with the addition of AA to trap 30% $NH_3-N$. The concentration of free $NH_3-N$ in the straw was significantly (p<0.01) less when more than 15% $NH_3-N$ was trapped with AA. There was significant increase (p<0.01) in N disappearance and depression in NDF and hemicellulose disappearance, when AA was used to trap 30% $NH_3-N$. Large scale treatment of wheat straw with 4% urea at a moisture level of 50% along with AA (to trap 30% $NH_3-N$) increased the N content, but not as much as in laboratory scale treatment. In vivo experiment conducted on nine adult male buffaloes divided into three groups revealed no difference in the intake of DM, OM, NDF, ADF, cellulose and hemicellulose among group I (ammoniated straw), group II (AA treated ammoniated straw) and group III (AA treated ammoniated straw +1 kg barley grain), but the intake was significantly (p<0.05) more in groups where AA treated straw was fed as compared to only ammoniated straw fed group. However EE digestibility was depressed in group II. The digestibility of cellulose and hemicellulose both depressed significantly (p<0.05) in group II and III as compared to group I. Animals in all the 3 groups showed positive nitrogen balance and it was significantly more in group II and III as compared to group I. DCP intake was significantly (p<0.05) more in group II and III as compared to group I, but there was no significant difference among the three groups in TDN intake. It can be concluded that AA (to trap 30% $NH_3-N$) is effective in capturing the excess ammonia released during urea ammoniation of straw and improving its nutritive value, as well as animal performance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.281-285
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• 1996

On farm demonstration of urea treatment (5 kg urea dissolved in 60 litre water/100kg) of straw was performed at 6 different sites and treated straw was stored by three different methods i.e., plastic covered, mud plastered and existing farmers technique (mud plastered on the top and open from sides) to determine the best storage method in field. Untreated and treated samples were taken after 5 week storage period and subjected to crude protein, crude fibre and cell wall constituents analysis. In situ dry matter digestibility of straw was measured by nylon bag technique in buffalo bulls. Crude protein content increased by 100 to 153 percent in treated straw stored by different methods. Maximum increase in crude protein of treated straw was noticed in mud plastered method. Urea treatment of straw resulted in significant decrease in crude fibre contents in all the storage methods. Treatment of straw enhanced the in situ digestibility by 25-49 percent and maximum digestibility (53%) was found in mud plastered storage method. It was concluded that the mud plastered storage method for urea treated straw was found to be the best at farm level.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1529-1534
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• 2004

The nutritive value of lentil straw (Lens culinaris) relative to 4% urea treated wheat straw (w/w) was assessed in adult bucks and milking buffaloes on-station and on-farm, respectively. A digestion-cum-nitrogen balance experiment was conducted with three bucks (24.35 kg) fed ad libitum lentil straw (LS), urea treated wheat straw (UTS) and a 1:1 (w/w DM basis) mixture of LS and UTS (LS:UTS) in a 3$\times$3 Latin square design. Though daily dry matter intake (g kg $W^{0.75}$ or % LW) of bucks fed LS and UTS did not differ significantly, that of LS:UTS was significantly (p<0.05) low. Similarly, digestibility of nutrients (DM, OM and CP) and nitrogen balance (g/day) did not differ significantly for bucks given LS or UTS although a significant positive improvement was evident in these parameters for LS:UTS. The digestibility of fibre fractions (NDF and ADF) was significantly (p<0.05) lower in LS as compared to UTS or LS:UTS. Except for the significantly (p<0.05) lower intake of DCP (g kg$W^{0.75}$), the bucks fed LS had statistically similar nutrient intake as compared to UTS. Feeding of LS:UTS resulted in significantly higher nutrient (DCP, TDN) intake by bucks. The important blood-biochemical parameters (haemoglobin,packed cell volume, glucose, urea nitrogen, total protein) and activity of serum enzymes (alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase) did not differ significantly in goats irrespective of dietary treatment. In the onfarm study, eighteen multiparous milking buffaloes were randomly assigned into three equal groups to assess the relative effect of feeding untreated wheat straw (WS), UTS and LS:UTS ad libitum as basal feed with a supplement. The study continued for 3 months and revealed that daily dry matter intake and average milk production (liters/day) by buffaloes offered LS:UTS and UTS was statistically similar but it was significantly higher compare to WS. However, milk composition did not differ significantly among the dietary treatments. It may be concluded that the nutritive value of lentil straw appeared to be no different to UTS, however, a positive synergistic effect was evident by feeding a mixture of LS and UTS on performance of goats and lactating buffaloes.