Citation

Devendra, C., The utilisation of rice straw by sheep. II. Level of crude protein and urea as the sole source of dietary nitrogen. Malaysian Agricultural Journal 50: 187-199, 1975.

Abstract

Part two of a programme of research on the utilization of rice straw by sheep is reported. Three trials are reported where sheep in metabolism cages were fed with 20 or 30% rice straw levels with molasses-urea. Urea represented the only source of dietary nitrogen and 1.3 to 4.2°, levels were used equivalent to 5.7 to 18.5g. per sheep, per day representing crude protein levels of 6.0, 8.0, 10.0, 12.0 and14.0% in the dry matter. It was demonstrated that sheep can be fed with urea exclusively as a source of protein. The importance of this finding is that similarly, adult ruminants in Malaysia can also be fed likewise.

There were no significant differences in all three trials in the apparent digestibility of dry and organic matter and crude fibre. In every case, the highest coefficient of dry and organic matter, nitrogen-free extract and coefficient of dry and organic matter, nitrogen-free extract and energy digestibility were recorded for the 20% rice straw levels. However, the dry and organic matter digestibilities were not different between the 20 and 30% rice straw levels of inclusion.

Dry matter intake was correlated (P<0.01) to level of dietary crude protein (r="0.714" to 0.791). the digestibility of crude protein in all three trials increased significantly (p<0.05) with increasing crude protein content. crude protein levels were also highly correlated with digestible crude protein (r="0.996," 0.965, 09.65; p<0.01). the regression of % digestibility crude protein and % crude protein gave relatively low a and b values suggesting that the indigenous sheep of malaysia have an efficient capacity to utilize low levels of crude protein. the need for further investigations on this point is stressed.

country, state, district, etc.

Malaysia, Selangor

Language

English

Material

rice straw

Use category

animal feed