Influence of urea molasses treated wheat straw fermented with cattle manure on chemical composition and feeding value for growing buffalo calves

Abstract

Abstract The study was conducted to examine the chemical composition of urea–molasses treated wheat straw (WS) fermented with cattle manure (CM) and its feeding value for growing buffalo male calves. Wheat straw treated with varying levels of urea (0%, 2% and 4%) and molasses (2% and 4%) was ensiled with 30% cattle manure (on dry matter basis) for different fermentation periods (20, 30 and 40 days). Fermented wheat straw (FWS) after each fermentation period was analyzed for pH, dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), true protein (TP), ammonia nitrogen (NH 3 -N), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF). Maximum pH, DM, CP, TP and NH 3 -N and minimum NDF contents were observed with 4% urea. The 4% molasses level increased the CP, TP and NH 3 -N contents of FWS, but pH, DM and NDF remained unchanged after 40 days of fermentation. The 4% urea × 4% molasses interaction resulted in maximum DM, CP, TP, NH 3 -N after 40 days of fermentation period and this combination was used for large scale production of FWS to evaluate its feeding value for calves. Four isonitrogen and isocaloric diets were formulated. The control FWS 0 diet contained no FWS while in FWS 15, FWS 25 and FWS 35 diets concentrate was replaced with 15%, 25% and 35% FWS, respectively. The diets were randomly allotted to four groups of 28 calves 9–12 months of age, seven in each group, in a randomized complete block design to examine the nutrient intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance and weight gain. An increased DM, organic matter (OM), CP and NDF intakes were observed in calves fed FWS diets compared to those fed FWS 0 diet. Nitrogen retention increased significantly with increasing the level of FWS. The DM, OM, CP and NDF apparent digestibilities were non-significant in calves fed different levels of FWS. A linear increase in weight gain was noticed in calves fed diets containing increasing level of FWS.