Effect of Treated Barley Grain with Sodium Hydroxide, Urea and Formaldehyde on Degradability of Crude Protein Using In situ Technique

Abstract

     The present study was carried out to determine the influence of treated barley grain with sodium hydroxide, urea and formaldehyde on degradability of crud protein and dry matter using in situ technique in Gizel sheep. Two fistulated sheep with average BW 45±2.5 kg were used in a complete randomized design. The ruminal dry matter (DM) and crud protein (CP) disappearance was measured at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, 36 and 48 h. The experimental treatments were A: barley grain treated with 3.5% sodium hydroxide and 1.5% urea, B: barley grain treated with 3.5% sodium hydroxide and 0.4% formaldehyde, C: barley grain treated with 3.5% urea and 0.4% formaldehyde. Parameters of crud protein (CP) for soluble fractions were (a) 41.063, 9.58 and 45.9% and fermentable fractions were (b) 51.16, 85.13 and 51.77% for treatments A, B and C, respectively. According to the survey results, it is clear that grain treated with chemical digestion has high feed potential and if further investigation in ruminant diets can be used as an alternative feed.

Key words: Barley grain, Formaldehyde, In-situ, Sodium hydroxide, Urea.