POSSIBILITY AND POSSIBLE METHODS OF IMPROVING THE NUTRITIVE VALUE OF CEREAL STRAW WITHOUT PRETREATMENT (A REVIEW)

In view of the wide range that occurs in the nutritive value of cereal straw, the factors that may contribute are discussed under the heading of : (a) genetic factors; (b) environment factors affecting the pattern of plant growth; and (c) management factors associated with grain harvest and threshing and straw storage. The possible ways of improving the nutritive value of cereal straw without pretreatment may be achieved by selecting and breeding better cereal straw, by controlling environmental factors, by controlling management practices and by appropriate supplementation strategies to alleviate deficiencies of essential nutrients. Thus improvement in the nutritive value of cereal straw would be attained without pretreatment.