Abstract
This study tested the effect of urea, urea sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and NaOH + urea on chemical composition and total tract nutrition in sheep. Treated stovers were prepared by mixing stovers with aqueous solution of urea (SU, 3g in 100 ml water /100 g DM), NaOH (SN, 4g in 100 ml water /100g DM) and urea + NaOH (SUN). Five male Balouchi sheep (30 ±1.4 kg) were used in a change-over design. In vivo experimental diets were as follows: alfalfa hay (AH), alfalfa hay + S (AHS), alfalfa hay + SU (AH SU), alfalfa hay + SN (AHSN) and alfalfa hay + SUN (AHSUN). The NDF content significantly (P<0.05) decreased when sesame stover was treated by urea and NaOH. However, the change in ADF and OM was not significant (P>0.05) in urea and NaOH. The urea caused a significant (P<0.05) increase in CP content of sesame stover. The digestibility coefficients of DM, OM, NDF and ADF increased with chemically treatment of sesame stover. Furthermore, rumen pH was not affected by the chemical treatment, while rumen NH3- N (P<0.05) concentration was enhanced by urea +NaOH treatment. These results suggest that digestibility of DM, OM, CP, NDF and ADF could be improved by chemical treatment with urea and NaOH.
Highlights
Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is an erect annual plant of numerous types and varieties belonging to the Pedaliacea family
The seasame stover was treated by aqueous solution of urea (SU, 3g in 100 ml water /100 g DM), NaOH (SN, 4g in 100 ml water /100g DM) and urea + NaOH [SUN, NaOH as 4g in 100 ml water/ 100g DM was sprayed on the samples and kept for 48h, urea (3g in 100 ml water/100g of initial DM) was added]
Results of this study demonstrated that the concentration of crude protein (CP) and NDF was statistically affected by the ensiling procedure
Summary
Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is an erect annual plant of numerous types and varieties belonging to the Pedaliacea family. It is cultivated since antiquity for its seed, used as food and flavoring and from which prized oil is extracted. Varieties grow from about 0.5 to 2. Sesame stover is the most abundance residual of sesame cultivation in semi- arid countries and traditionally used as a basal feed in ruminants (Danesh Mesgaran et al, 2010). The quantity and quality of available feedstuffs are major factors influencing productivity of ruminants in many parts of the word, especially regions with high animal numbers (Prasad et al, 1993)
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