Effect of Ammoniation of Hill Grasses on Nutrient Utilization by Crossbred Heifers

Ten crossbred (Gir/Rathi X Red Dane) heifers (13-20m, 80-170 kg) were divided into tw o equal groups and fed ad libitum for a period of 6o d on hill dry grass (control) and grass treated with 4% urea-ammonia, at 50% moisture (Experimental). Each heifer was also fed daily 1.0-1.25 kg concentrate mixture. The digestibility coefficients of nutrients of urea treated grass ration were higher than the Control. The TDN values of untreated and urea treated grass rations Mere 47.58 and 53.7 and the DCP values 5.03 and 10.28%, respectively. The DM intake on urea treated grass ration was higher than that of untreated grass ration (P<0.01). Feeding of urea treated grass resulted in higher weight gain as compared to the heifers on the control ration (P<0.01). Feeding of treated grass ration reduced the feeding cost/kg live weight gain of heifers.