Abstract
ABSTRACTThe effect of ammonia (AS) and urea‐calcium hydroxide (US) treated rice straw as a sole diet on the voluntary intake, digestibility of feed components, nitrogen retention, rumen parameters and microbial nitrogen yield of Suffolk ewes, were compared in a double 2 × 2 latin square design. The digestibility of feed components was not differed in sheep offered either AS or US. Dry matter intake was higher in AS (28 g/kg BW0.75) than US (22 g/kg BW0.75). Although there was high nitrogen intake in sheep given AS diet, this did not result in higher nitrogen retention compared with US diet. No difference was observed in purine derivatives or microbial nitrogen supply between the two groups. The rumen ammonia‐N of sheep offered AS or US exhibited a similar trend in diurnal change with the peak at 1.5–2.5 h after feeding and decline gradually thereafter. However, volatile fatty acid production peaked at approximately 8 h after evening feed and then steadily declined. AS and US diets led sheep to lose weight. In conclusion, urea‐calcium hydroxide treated straw can be used for sheep as an alternative to ammonia treated straw. Without supplementation, ammonia or urea‐calcium hydroxide treated straw was not sufficient even for the maintenance of sheep.
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