Utilization of Urea-Treated Rice Straw and Whole Sugar Cane Crop as Roughage Sources for Dairy Cattle during the Dry Season

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to study the use of urea-treated rice straw (UTRS) and whole sugar cane (WSC) crop as roughage sources for dairy cattle during the dry season. Experiment I, four rumen-fistulated dairy crossbred steers were assigned to receive roughage treatments according to a 4 × 4 Latin square design; T1 = urea-treated (5%) rice straw, T2 = UTRS and WSC at 75:25% DM, T3 = UTRS and WSC at 25:75% DM, and T4 = WSC. Experiment II, three rumen fistulated, late lactating multiparous Holstein-Friesian crossbreds were randomly allotted to a 3 × 3 Latin square design to receive three types of roughages; T1 = WSC, T2 = UTRS, T3 = WSC+UTRS at 50:50% DM. It was found that combination of UTRS and WSC at 75:25 ratio significantly increased DM intake while intake of WSC alone was lowest. Moreover, inclusion of UTRS into WSC enhanced digestibilites (Exp. I). In Exp. II, combination of UTRS with WSC at 50:50 ratio (DM) enhanced DM intake (kg/d) (p<0.05) and especially milk yield, milk fat and protein percentages. The findings suggest the combined use of WSC and UTRS improved the feeding values of these roughages for dairy cattle during the dry season.