Partial Replacement of Concentrate Mixture with Urea Treated Wheat Straw in the Ration of Heifers

One quintal wheat straw was impregnated with a mixture of Z kg urea, 20 kg molasses, 1 kg each of commnnn salt and mineral mixture. Eight Haryram heifers of about one year of age were divided into two groups. The animals of control group 1, were offered 1.5 kg concentrate mixture and ad lib feeding of molassed treated wheat straw without urea. In the experimental group 2, only 550 g of concentrate mixture was given, thus reducing the intake of concentrate mixture by 63 per cent as compared to control group. In addition tn this, urea treated wheat straw was fed ad lib to these animals. All the animals of both the groups were offered 10 kg green berseem daily. The palatability of urea treated wheat straw increased by 12 per cent. The digestibility coefficients of DM, EE, CF and NFE of the combined ration were significantly higher in group 1 than the other group excapt CP. The balances of nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus were positive in both the treatments. The live Height gain/day was significantly higher (P<0.01) in group 1 than group 2.