Abstract: This study is carried out to determine effect of different level of urea and molasses liquid supplementation on nutrient intake, digestibility and rumen parameters of wheat straw fed Awassi ram lambs. Total fifteen 2 years old Awassi ram lambs (44.40 ? 2.0 kg) were allocated to five treatments (3 per treatment) at random within live weight. Treatments were wheat straw (Control; C), WS + 0.75% urea and 10% molasses (T1), WS + 1.5% urea+ 10% molasses (T2), WS + 0.75 %urea + 20% molasses (T3), and WS + 1.5 %urea + 20% molasses (T3) as fed basis. Supplementing urea and molasses increased DMI and OMI of ram lambs (P <0.05). Increasing urea level from 0.75 to 1.50% and molases level from 10 to 20% did not changed DMI or OMI (P>0.05). Dry matter and OM digestibility of wheat straw control diet (C) were found lower than urea and molasses supplemented treatment diets (P <0.01). Control diet consuming animals had a lower CP digestibility than urea and molasses supplemented animals (P<0.05). Increment both urea (T1-T3 vs T2-T4) and molasses (T1-T2 vs T3-T4) increased CP digestibility of diets. Control (WS) diet had a lower NDF digestibility than urea and molasses supplemented treatment diets (P <0.01). While increasing molasses level (T1-T2 vs T3-T4) did not affect NDF digestibility (P>0.05), increment of urea (T1-T3 vs T2-T4) improved NDF digestibility (P <0.05). ADF digestibilities of control (WS) and treatment diets were found similar (P> 0.05). Increment of molasses levels (T1-T2 vs T3-T4) and urea levels (T1-T3 vs T2-T4) increased ADF digestibilities of diets (P<0.01). Ruminal pH was similar for the different diets, while NH3-N (mg/100 ml) was higher (P< 0.01) for the treatments diet. As a conclusion, supplementation with urea and molasses improved rumen environment, feed intake and digestibility in Awassi ram lambs fed wheat straw.
A. Can , N. Denek and K. Yazgan , 2004. Effect of Urea and Molasses Supplementation on Nutrient Intake and Digestibility of Sheep Fed with Straw . Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 3: 466-469.