Effects of urea and aqueous ammonia treatment on the composition and nutritive value of maize residues

Two trials were conducted to investigate changes in chemical composition and nutritive value of maize residues treated with urea and aqueous ammonia. In Experiment I, maize stalks, husks and cobs were chopped into pieces of approximately 1 cm length. Aqueous NH 3 (3%) and feed grade urea equivalent...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Small ruminant research 2007-05, Vol.69 (1), p.232-236
Main Authors: Oji, U.I., Etim, H.E., Okoye, F.C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ammonia
Aqueous NH 3
aqueous solutions
corn
digestibility
Feed grade urea
feed intake
feed processing
feeds
forage evaluation
in vitro digestibility
Maize residues
Nutrient digestibilities
nutritive value
processing residues
proximate composition
ruminant nutrition
ruminants
storage
storage conditions
urea
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Summary:Two trials were conducted to investigate changes in chemical composition and nutritive value of maize residues treated with urea and aqueous ammonia. In Experiment I, maize stalks, husks and cobs were chopped into pieces of approximately 1 cm length. Aqueous NH 3 (3%) and feed grade urea equivalent to 3% NH 3 were sprayed into 100 g duplicate samples on DM basis, thoroughly mixed, stored in plastic containers and kept for 3 week at ambient temperature (25–27 °C). Proximate composition and in vitro dry matter digestibility of test materials were determined. In Experiment II, 100 kg batches of the maize residues were chopped and treated as in Experiment I but stored in 205 l drums lined with black polythene sheet. Feed intake and nutrient digestibility of treated materials were evaluated with 18 mature WAD sheep averaging 19.8 kg BW. Treatment improved ( P < 0.05) intake and digestion coefficients for N, DM, NDF, ADF and OM but there were no differences ( P > 0.05) between aqueous NH 3 and urea treatments. Feed grade urea or the equivalent weight of fertilizer grade urea can be used to improve the nutritional value of maize residues for small ruminant feeding during off season periods.
ISSN:0921-4488
1879-0941
DOI:10.1016/j.smallrumres.2006.01.015