Effect of using treated rice straw by urea, sulphuric acid and tafla clay on performance of sheep and lactating buffalos

The effect of the first three tested rations on production and constituents of milk. Treatment of rice straw by sulphuric acid-urea led to increase its crude protein (CP) content from 3.25 % to 10.01, but the crude fiber content showed opposite trend. Results of 1St trial showed that the highest (P0.05) values of dry matter urtake of total ration were recorded with control ration. The CF digestibility of the control group was significantly lower (P0.05). Digestibility of the other nutrients of the tested rations were significantly improved with tafla addition. The highest values of total digestible nutrients (TDN%), starch equivalent (SE%) and DCP were recorded with the animals fed (T3). The TDN, SE and DCP intake were increased (P0.05) with control ration (TI) than the other rations. Results of 2°d trial showed that the treated rice straw intake values with or without tafla clay were significantly (P0.05) increased than that of the control one. The DCP value was significantly increased when buffalos fed tafla containing ration (T3) than those fed control ration. The average daily fat corrected milk (FCM) yield of the control, T2 and T3 were 12.25, 13.31 and 14.57 kg, respectively. The feed conversion as TDN and SE per kg FCM showed significant differences between all groups. However, feed conversio as g DCP per kg FCM was more efficient in T1 followed by (T3) an the worst was recorded in T2. The economical study showed that values of return were 1075.49, 1258.77 and 1471.02 P.T(hId) for T T2 and T3, respectively. The results concluded that treatment of rice straw with 2.5 H2SO4 and 5% urea improved its nutritive values. Addition of tafla. clay to the treated rice straw improved urea utilization. The treated rice straw plus tafla can be used to replace about 40-50% of concentrate feeds of sheep and lactating buffalos without any adverse effect on the performance, moreover its economical and environmental return. This work dedicate to late of Prof. Dr. Soliman Mohamed Abd Baki, Proffesor of Animal Nutrition, Fac. of Agric. Zagazig U which died in 612/2009.