EFFECT UREA-MOLASSES TREATED RICE STRAW FOR THE FATTENING OF EMACIATED BULL CALVES AT MOHADEVPUR UPAZILLA UNDER BAOGAON DISTRICT

Abstract

Rice straw as one of agricultural by-products has low quality due to low content of essential nutrients like protein, energy, minerals and vitamin as well as poor palatability and digestibility. Therefore, the quality of rice straw needs to be improved in order to increase its utilization by gastrointestinal tract of ruminants. The purpose of this study is to compare untreated and urea treated rice straw as basal diets for cattle. Six local calves approximately 1.5 to 2.5 years of age with an average live weight of 64 kg were divided into 3 dietary groups according to some scope and privileges. They were given 3 different straw based rations namely, Urea supplemented diet (Diet-A), Urea-molasses treated rice straw diet (Diet-B) and Untreated rice straw diet (Diet-C). Each animals received 2 kg straw with ad libitum green grass with kitchen by product or kitchen waste (average 1 kg) daily for 60 days. Total body weight gain and dry matter intake were determined. The total dry matter intake in the dietary animals group-A and B was higher than the dietary animals group-C but not significant (p>0.05)(difference is 13 kg). But significantly higher body weight gain was observed in the animals group-B which given the urea-molasses treated rice straw diet as compared to the supplemented diet and urea untreated control group.