Effect of feeding urea treated wheat straw with or without sulphur on reproductive efficiency in crossbred heifers

Crosbred Leifers (25; 12–18 rn old) divided into 5 equal groups were offered either untreated wheat straw (U0S0) ad lib, 1.5% freshly urea treated wheat straw (U1S0), wheat straw was treated as in U1S0 but 0.5% single super phosphate (SSP) was added to urea solution before spraying (U1S0). In group 4, wheat straw was treated with 4% urea (w/w) at 40% moisture and packed in polythene bags for 21 days (U2S0) or 1.5% single super phosphate was added to urea solution before packing (U2S2). In addition, in all the treatment groups, concentrate was offered as per requirement. Statistically (P<0.05) lower age at first heat was observed in U2S2 followed by U2S0, which differ significantly (P<0.05) from other groups. Body weight at first heat was also lowest in treatment U2S2 but the differences were non-significant among all the treatment groups. The age at sexual maturity was significantly (P<0.05) lower in U2S2 by 62.75, 61.75, 51.35 and 61.75 days, respectively in comparison to U0S0, U1S0, U1S1, U2S0. But a nonsignificant difference was observed among the treatments for body weight at sexual maturity. The conception rate was highest in U2S2 followed by U2S0 and 11, 8, but low in U0S0 and U1S0. Feed cost/kg body weight gain was statistically comparable. It was concluded that urea treatment of wheat straw with single super phosphate as a sulphur source has potential to improve the reproductive efficiency in crossbred heifers.