Abstract:

The effects of untreated straw (S), treated straw with 4 % Urea (U + S), 10 % of 20 % HCI (S + 20 - HCI), 10 % of 30 % HCI (S + 30 - HCI), 10 % of 20 % HCI + 4 % Urea (S + 20 - HCI + U), and 10 % of 30 % HCI + 4 % Urea (S + 30 - HCI + U) on ruminal dry matter degradability, crude nutrients and metabolisable energy values were investigated in Angora goat bucks fed by untreated and treated straw. The crude fat and crude fiber contents of experimental diets were not found significantly different between groups. However, crude protein levels of treated straw were increased in group of S + U (9.83 %), S + 20 - HCI + U (16.29 %) and S + 30 - HCI + U (16.27 %). While low digestible cellulose and hemicellulose ratio of all treated straw were slightly lowered, the metabolisable energy values were increased by chemical treatment. Ruminal dry matter degradability determined by nylon bag technique of treated straw were 27.68, 39.31, 28.72, 43.21, 61.58 and 59.24 % at 48 hour in cubation time and 30.98, 45.33, 38.48, 47.01, 62.73 and 61.90 % at 72 hour cubation time and 30.98, 45.33, 38.48, 47.01, 62.73 and 61.90 % at 72 hour incubation time respectively. Metabolisable energy (MJ ME / kg DM) values of groups were found as 5.25, 6.49, 5.36, 6.91, 8.88 and 8.63. The increases in dry matter degradability of wheat straw at 48 hour incubation were not statistically significant in S + 20 - HCI group compare to S group, but were statistically significant for all treated groups at both incubation times (P< 0.01). The best results were observed in HCI + Urea treated straw groups. It is concluded that the treatment of wheat straw together with HCI and Urea improves degradability and increases metabolisable energy values of straw .

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