Effect of Feeding Urea Treated/Supplemented Sorghum (Sorghum halepense) Stover with or without Sulphur on Nutrient Utilization in Crossbred Heifers

Sixteen crossbred heifers (8–12 m, 38–110 kg BW) were randomly divided into 4 groups of 4 each. Animals in groups T1 and T2 were fed 5% urea treated sorghum stover whereas in groups T3 and T4 1.70 per cent urea was supplemented along with stover in order to make isonitrogenous diets. Concentrate mixture was fed to all the groups as per requirement. Sulphur through ammoniumsulphate was supplemented in groups T1 and T3 to manitain N:S ratio of 10:1. Digestibility coefficients of crude protein and gross emergy were significantly higher in T2 than in group T4 There was significant improvement in digestibility of CP and gross energy as a result of sulphur supplementation in urea treated as well as urea supplemented stover diets. The digestible dry-matter and organic matter intake values were significantly higher on sulphur supplemented diets than those not supplemented with sulphur. Average daily weight gains were also significantly higher in group T1 than in T2 and in T3 as compared to T4.