Authors : G. R. Ramirez , J. C. Aguilera Gonzalez , G. Garcia Diaz and A. M. Nunez Gonzalez
Abstract: Buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris), bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) hays, corn stover and corn cobs (Zea mays), with a moisture content of 50%, were ammoniated with feed grade urea at 0, 4.5 and 6.0% DM. Ammonia-treated forages were stored in plastic bags during 21 days. Crude Protein (CP), Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF), Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF), Acid Detergent Lignin (ADL), hemicellulose and cellulose were determined. The rate and extent of dry matter and NDF loss was estimated using the nylon bag technique. Rumen cannulated PelibueyxRambouillet sheep were used to incubate the nylon bags. During the trial, sheep were fed ad libitum 70% sorghum Sudan hay and 30% alfalfa hay. The CP content in buffelgrass hay (4.4, 9.9 and 16.3%, respectively) bermudagrass hay (6.2, 13.8, 22.9%), corn stover (7.4, 12.3, 15.6%) and corn cobs (3.0, 11.2, 16.7%) increased as urea treatment augmented. However, NDF was reduced as treatment increased (80.6, 74.7, 75.8; 79.9, 77.8, 75.5; 75.4, 66.0, 69.3; 92.5, 85.6 and 88.4%, respectively). Similar, pattern as NDF was found in hemicellulose content. Effective Degradability of Dry Matter (EDDM) and NDF (EDNDF) in buffelgrass hay (26, 42, 31; 20, 33 and 24%, respectively) and corn cobs 23, 36, 32; 25, 34, 31%, respectively) increased quadratically (p< 0.01) as urea treatment augmented. Whereas, EDDM and EDNDF in bermudagrass hay (30, 38, 39; 25, 32, 33%, respectively) and corn stover (42, 48, 53; 38, 41, 45%, respectively) increased linearly (p< 0.01). Urea ammoniation altered the chemical composition and digestibility of forages improving their nutritive value.
G. R. Ramirez , J. C. Aguilera Gonzalez , G. Garcia Diaz and A. M. Nunez Gonzalez , 2007. Effect of Urea Treatment on Chemical Composition and Digestion of Cenchrus ciliaris and Cynodon dactylon Hays and Zea mays Residues . Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 6: 1036-1041.