Evaluation of rice byproducts and roughage based complete feeds by in vitro dry matter digestibility technique
Pal, S.; Rathee, C.S.; Chahil, S.M.
Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 55(4): 259-264
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0367-8318 Accession: 005401191
In the 1st phase, in vitro experiments were conducted to study the effect of different levels of moisture and alkali on the in vitro dry-matter digestibility (IVDMD) of the roughage wheat straw and rice husk (1:1). In the 2nd phase, the effect of different levels of wheat straw replacement by rice husk, the roughage and concentrate ratio and different sources of nitrogen and energy on IVDMD were studied. The IVDMD of roughage was directly related to moisture level up to 50%. The maximum benefit of alkali treatment on the roughage was at 4-6% alkali concentration and the effect was highly significant (P < 0.01). Replacement of wheat straw by rice husk up to 50% may be possible in ruminant ration. The treatment of wheat straw with total alkali 1st and the addition of rice husk after 12 h increased IVDMD, but the effect was non-significant. There was no significant difference in IVDMD of the feeds having different sources of nitrogen and energy except where urea was used as a sole nitrogen source. The IVDMD was less than that of the preformed protein nitrogen sources.