Effect of Twice or Thrice Feeding Urea Supplemented Diets on Nutrient Utilization in Growing Crossbred Heifers

Sixteen crossbred heifers were divided into four groups to study the efficiency of urea utilization. In groups A and B urea was mixed in concentrate mixture and in groups C and D urea was mixed in green maize fodder. Animals of groups A and C were fed twice, while those in B and D thrice daily. Restricted green maize fodder @ 1 kg DM/100 kg body weight and ad libitum wheat straw was offered to all the animals. In growth study of 120 days which included digestion trial of 7 days duration, the gain in body weight was significantly (P<0.05) higher in groups B and D than the other groups. The DM and OM intake in groups B and D was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the other groups. The digestibility of NDF and ADF differed significantly (P<0.05) among the groups. Thus, increasing the frequency of feeding urea supplemented diets from twice to thrice daily is advantageous.