Response and Ruminal Characteristics of Buffalo Bulls Fed Urea-molasses Treated Wheat Straw Inoculated with Rumen Digesta

The study was aimed to examine the influence of urea-molasses treated wheat straw inoculated with rumen digesta (RD) on nutrient digestibility, nitrogen (N) balance and ruminal characteristics of ruminally cannulated buffalo bulls (400+20 kg) in a 4x4 Latin Square Design. Four isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets were formulated. Experimental diets contained 60, 70 and 80% fermented wheat straw (FWS; 4% urea, 4% molasses and 20% RD incubated for 30 d) and were denoted as FWS60, FWS70 and FWS80 diets, respectively. The control diet (C) contained 50% untreated wheat straw. Bulls were fed at ad libitum. The study lasted for twelve weeks. Dry matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fiber intake and digestibilities increased in bulls fed FWS60 diet compared to those fed C, FWS70 and FWS80 diets and similar observations were noticed for N balance. Higher blood urea N was noticed in bulls fed FWS60 diet than those fed C, FWS70 and FWS80 diets. Bulls fed FWS60 diet had higher ruminal NH3-N concentrations and rumen pH at 3, 6 and 9 h post feeding than those fed C, FWS70, FWS8 and C diets. The study outcome imply that urea molasses treated wheat straw ensiled with 20% RD for a period of 30 days can be included upto 60% in the diet of ruminants without any detrimental effects on rumen characteristics, rather it improved nutrients intake, digestibilities and N balance.