• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.91-97
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• 1993

This experiment was carried out to examine the effects of urea-treated rice straw feeding on the growth performance of crossbred Holstein heifers under different feeding conditions. In the first experiment, the animals were given diets having 2 levels of TDN and CP and 3 levels of crude fiber (22, 30 and 36%) which were formulated with urea-treated rice straw and concentrates. Daily weight gain of heifers was not different between 22% and 30% CF diets, but the reduction of TDN or CP level to 90% of the requirements decreased the weight gain. Fiber content of 36% also reduced the body weight gain. The reduction of TDN significantly reduced DM intake and increased feed conversion ratio. Feed cost per kg weight gain was significantly increased by an increase in CF to 36%. In the second experiment, separate feeding and total mixing feeding were compared. There were no significant differences between the two feeding systems in body weight gain although the possibility of superiority in SF to TMF remained. DM intake was not affected by the feeding system, but 30% CF diet gave higher DM intake. Feed cost per kg weight gain was lower in the 30% CF diet.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.85-90
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• 1989

Forty bull calves of Sahiwal crosses were fed either urea treated or untreated rice straw with 4 levels of Gliricidia (0, 1, 2, and 4 kg fresh material). Dry matter intake (DMI) of straw and Gliricidia was measured during 2 periods. Straw intakes in period 1 and 2 were significantly different (P<0.001). Supplementation of Gliricidia depressed the DMI of straw during the second period (P<0.01), but not in the first period. Urea-ammonia treatment increased straw intake and total intake in both periods, but the increase in dry matter digestibility (DMD) of the ration was not significant (P>0.05). Liveweight gain (LWG) was increased significantly, both by urea ammonia treatment (P<0.01) and by supplementation with Gliricidia (P<0.001). Animals on treated straw gained on an average $137\;g{\cdot}d^{-1}$ more than those on untreated straw.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.493-498
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• 1994

The response of crossbred Holstein milking cows to the neutralized urea-treated rice straw feeding was investigated. Rice straw was treated with 6% urea for at least 21 days and further with sulfuric acid for overnight to complete the neutralization. The neutralized straw was then sun-dried and its feeding value was compared with that of the dried non-neutralized urea-treated straw. They were fed to the cows with concentrates either by the ration formulation based on the nutrient requirements for milk production recommended by NRC or by the traditional way in which straw was fed ad libitum and concentrates at 1 kg/2 kg of milk production. The results showed that milk production as well as milk composition of cows were not different between neutralized and non-neutralized straw. The feeding of the neutralized straw could significantly reduce the supply of protein-rich feed such as soybean oil meal, and it was demonstrated that ammonium sulfate in the neutralized straw could be utilized as effective as the plant origin protein. The results also suggested that if the traditional feeding method is applied to the dairy cattle, protein content of the supplementing concentrates should be increased to meet the requirement.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.1689-1697
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• 2013

This study was designed to determine the effect of physical form and urea treatment of rice straw on rumen fermentation, microbial protein synthesis and nutrient digestibility. Four rumen-fistulated dairy steers were randomly assigned according to a 2 (2 factorial arrangement in a 4 (4 Latin square design to receive four dietary treatments. Factor A was roughage source: untreated rice straw (RS) and urea-treated (3%) rice straw (UTRS), and factor B was type of physical form of rice straw: long form rice straw (LFR) and chopped (4 cm) rice straw (CHR). The steers were offered the concentrate at 0.5% body weight (BW) /d and rice straw was fed ad libitum. DM intake and nutrient digestibility were increased (p<0.05) by urea treatment. Ruminal pH were decreased (p<0.05) in UTRS fed group, while ruminal ammonia nitrogen ($NH_3$-N) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were increased (p<0.01) by urea treatment. Total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations increased (p<0.01) when steers were fed UTRS. Furthermore, VFA concentrations were not altered by treatments (p>0.05), except propionic acid (C3) was increased (p<0.05) in UTRS fed group. Nitrogen (N) balance was affected by urea treatment (p<0.05). Microbial protein synthesis (MCP) synthesis were greater by UTRS and CHR group (p<0.05). The efficiency of microbial N synthesis was greater for UTRS than for RS (p<0.05). From these results, it can be concluded that using the long form combined with urea treatment of rice straw improved feed intake, digestibility, rumen fermentation and efficiency of microbial N synthesis in crossbred dairy steers.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.165-169
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• 1994

Forty cross bred ($168\;{\pm}\;28\;kg$) bull calves were offered either untreated (US) or urea ammonia treated (TS) rice straw at five levels of feeding, namely; 60, 80, 100, 120 140% of ad libitum. Ad libitum level for each animal was estimated over a period of one month, which was followed by a preliminary period of 21 days and a collection period of 15 days. The maximum organic matter intake (OMI-kg/100 kg BW) were 2.08 and 3.35 for US and TS, respectively and urea treatment increased the maximum OMI by 61% than for US. In order to reach maximum intake the amount feed refusal should be 25% for US, but with TS maximum intake was not reached even when the amount of feed refused was 39% of that consumed. The OMD of US significantly decreased with increase in OMI, whereas with TS the decrease was not significant. The inability of animals to select between stems and leaves particularly in TS might be one of the reasons for its constant digestibility. Considering the substantial increases in intake and the negative effect on digestibility of US, further trials are warranted, as well as studies to determine the practical implications.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.363-372
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• 1994

In two separate experiments with crossbred bulls (Sahiwal $\times$ indigenous) the effect of access to a urea-molasses lickblock (MOL-U-MIN) on straw diets was studied. The animals were given either untreated (US) or urea treated (TS) rice straw with or without lickblock supplementation. In experiment 1, individual dry matter intake (DMI) and dry matter digestibility (DMD) were measured, while in experiment 2 in addition to the above rumen (pH, ammonia, minerals) and blood (protein, minerals and haemotological) parameters were also measured. With both experiments urea treatment did not effect DMI, but lickblock supplementation significantly (p < 0.05) increased DMI. The DMD values obtained in both experiments for TS were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than for US, but lickblock supplementation did not effect the DMD of either US or TS fed animals. Both urea treatment (6.97 vs 6.93) and lickblock supplementation (6.98 vs 6.92) significantly (p < 0.001) reduced the rumen pH. Urea treatment and lickblock supplementation increased the rumcn $NH_3-N$ concentration (mg/100 ml) from 8.7 to 11.9 and 9.2 to 11.4, respectively. Both US and TS diets fed with or without lickblock increased the molar ratio of Na : K in saliva. Phosphorus content in blood plasma was significantly (p < 0.01) increased due to lickblock supplementation, whereas the Fc content in blood was significantly increased (p < 0.01) by urea treatment. Haemoglobin content in blood ranged from 11.3 to 11.7 g/dl, and was not influenced by urea treatment or lickblock supplementation. Lickblock significantly reduced the number of red blood cells, but increased the mean corpuscular volume. It is concluded that feeding urea treated straw with proper mineral supplementation could be a more economical alternative to lickblock supplementation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.474-477
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• 2000

Two experiments were conducted to study the use of urea-treated rice straw (UTRS) and whole sugar cane (WSC) crop as roughage sources for dairy cattle during the dry season. Experiment I, four rumen-fistulated dairy crossbred steers were assigned to receive roughage treatments according to a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design: $T_1=urea-treated$ (5%) rice straw, $T_2=UTRS$ and WSC at 75:25% DM, $T_3=UTRS$ and WSC at 25:75% DM, and $T_4=WSC$. Experiment II, three rumen fistulated, late lactating multiparous Holstein-Friesian crossbreds were randomly allotted to a $3{\times}3$ Latin square design to receive three types of roughages; $T_1=WSC$, $T_2=UTRS$, $T_3=WSC+UTRS$ at 50:50% DM. It was found that combination of UTRS and WSC at 75:25 ratio significantly increased DM intake while intake of WSC alone was lowest. Moreover, inclusion of UTRS into WSC enhanced digestibilites (Exp. I). In Exp. II, combination of UTRS with WSC at 50:50 ratio (DM) enhanced DM intake (kg/d) (p<0.05) and especially milk yield, milk fat and protein percentages. The findings suggest the combined use of WSC and UTRS improved the feeding values of these roughages for dairy cattle during the dry season.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.1102-1108
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• 2000

An experiment was conducted as a Latin square design with four rumen fistulated local yellow cattle with a mean live weight of 230 kg. The treatments were: $(CLM_0)$ urea-treated rice straw ad libitum plus 1 kg cassava root meal (basal diet), $(CLM_{500})$ basal diet plus 500 g cassava leaf meal, $(CLM_{1000})$ basal diet plus 1,000 g cassava leaf meal, and $(CLM_{1500})$ basal diet plus 1,500 g cassava leaf meal. The results showed that there were differences in dry matter intake of urea-treated rice straw between treatments (p<0.05). The highest total dry matter intake was observed for treatment $CLM_{1500}$, with 2.62 kg DM/100 kg LWt/day, followed by treatments $CLM_{1000}$, $CLM_{500}$ and $CLM_0$, with 2.42, 2.00 and 1.86 kg DM/100 kg LWt/day, respectively. The ruminal ammonia concentration on treatment $CLM_{1500}$ was greater than on treatments $CLM_{1000}$, $CLM_{500}$ and $CLM_0$. There were non-significant differences in the ruminal pH among the treatments. The in sacco degradability of cassava leaf meal and cassava root meal was high, and on average 75 and 85% respectively of the DM had disappeared after 24 h of incubation. Degradation rate of urea treated rice straw was 64% after 72 h of incubation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.113-118
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• 1995

Eighteen Holstein Friesian ${\times}$ Native heifers with an average live weight of $175.4{\pm}27.8kg$ were allotted to 3 dietary groups. All animals were kept individually in a stanchion barn with free access to water and urea-treated rice straw (UTS). The supplemented feeds were as follows: Group (Gr) 1 - concentrate mixture (15% CP) at 1% body weight (BW), Gr 2 - concentrate mixture at 0.7% BW + free licking of multinutrient block (MNB), Gr 3 - as Gr 2 + 0.3% BW ground com. Multinutrient block composed of 20% mineral mixture, 10% urea, 18% molasses, 20% soybean meal, 22% sesame meal, 10% cement, 0.15 million IU and 50 IU/kg MNB of vitamin A and E. The experimental period lasted 12 weeks. The result revealed that MNB enhanced intake of UTS and total dry matter intake. Animals in Gr 3 consumed a higher amount of feed than the other 2 groups, thus resulting in the highest live weight gain and tended to possess the best feed conversion ratio. Heifers in Gr 2 also performed better than Gr 1 although the difference was not significant. Average MNB intake found to be 0.65 kg/day. Feed cost per kg gain was not significantly different amon groups. However if the cost of MNB could be lower, it would benefit the production cost of animals. The advantage of MNB is the safety of using a high level of urea. Although it was supplemented to UTS which also contained non-protein nitrogen (NPN), no toxic sign was shown. The results indicated that MNB could be partially substituted to concentrate mixture and it was even better when used incombination with soluble carbohydrate feed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.421-426
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• 1994

Twelve cross bred cows ($300{\pm}20kg$) were fed a basal ration consisting of 1 kg concentrate and untreated or urea treated rice with or without urea-molasses-wheat bran lick block supplementation. The lick blocks were prepared locally using cement as a binding agent. The experiment lasted for 48 days consisting of a preliminary period of 14 days and a measurement period of 34 days. Daily dry ma tter intake (DMI) of straw and lick block, and daily milk yield were recorded during the measurement period. Intake of lick block when fed with untreated straw (US) was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than with urea treated (TS) straw (397 vs 307g $100kg^{-1}$), but lick block supplementation did not significantly affect the in take of US (1.80 vs 1.83kg $100kg^{-1}day^{-1}$) or TS (2.27 vs 2.17kg $100kg^{-1}day^{-1}$). Both urea treatment and lick block supplementation significantly increased (p < 0.01) the milk yield of cows, and the increase due to urea treatment was higher than that due to lick block supplementation. Benefit/cost ratio obtained for feeding US or TS with 1 kg dairy concentrate was similar (5.4), but the marginal return favours TS (5.4:1.0). The benefit/cost ratio for US and TS supplemented with lick block was 3.4 and 3.7. respectively, but the marginal return with US was higher than with TS (1.6:1.0 and 0.9:1.0, respectively).