Effects of Feeding Alkali-Treated Oat Straw Supplemented with Soybean Meal or Nonprotein Nitrogen on Growth of Lambs and on Certain Blood and Rumen Liquor Parameters

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Abstract
Treatment of straw with sodium hydroxide has improved dry matter digestibility (Watson, 1941; Woodman, 1943; Sen, Ray and Talpatra, 1942). Wilson and Pigden (1964) and Ololade and Mowat (1969) observed an improved in vitro digestibility of alkali-treated wheat straw. Efforts have been made to improve the technique of treating poor forages with alkali (Krause, Klopfenstein and Woods, 1968; Donefer, 1968).There is increased interest in using non-protein nitrogen (NPN) to supplement rations of ruminant animals. Little is known concerning how alkali-treated straw would serve as a source of energy for NPN utilization. The present investigation was undertaken to study the effect of alkali treatment of oat straw on energy and nitrogen (N) utilization for lamb growth when N was supplied from soybean meal (SBM), urea or diammonium phosphate (DAP).Oat straw was ground in a hammer mill with screen openings approximately 9 mm in diameter. Ground straw was soaked at room temperature for 22 hr. in a 1.5% w/v solution of sodium hydroxide (1 part straw/8 parts solution w/v). It was then washed with water and drained.

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