• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.1583-1591
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• 2003

The influence of varying levels of urea and additives on nitrogen (N) retention and chemical composition of wheat straw was studied. The wheat straw was treated with 4, 6 and 8% urea and ensiled with 1.5, 2 and 2.5% of acetic or formic acid and 2, 4 and 6% of corn steep liquor (CSL) or acidified molasses for 15 days. The N content of wheat straw was significantly different across all treatments. The N content of urea treated wheat straw was increased with the increasing level of urea. The N content was higher in urea treated wheat straw ensiled with acetic or formic acid as compared to urea treated wheat straw ensiled without these organic acids. The N content of urea treated wheat straw was further enhanced when it was ensiled with CSL or acidified molasses. This effect was significant across all levels of urea used to treat the wheat straw. Nitrogen retention in urea treated wheat straw was decreased linearly as the urea level was increased to treat the wheat straw. The N content was increased linearly when higher levels of CSL or acidified molasses were used to ensile the urea treated wheat straw. Most of the N in urea treated wheat straw was held as neutral detergent insoluble N (NDIN). The NDIN content was increased linearly with the increasing levels of urea and additives. The neutral detergent fiber (NDF) contents were higher in urea treated wheat straw ensiled with acetic or formic acid as compared to urea treated wheat straw ensiled without additive. The NDF content further increased in urea treated wheat straw ensiled with CSL and acidified molasses. The entire increase in NDF content was because of fiber bound N. The hemicellulose content of urea treated wheat straw ensiled with CSL or acidified molasses was higher as compared to urea treated wheat straw ensiled with acetic or formic acid. The acid detergent fiber content of urea treated wheat straw ensiled with or without additives remained statistically non-significant. The cellulose contents of wheat straw was linearly reduced when urea level was increased from 4 to 6 and 8% to treat the wheat straw. This effect was further enhanced when urea treated wheat straw was ensiled with different additives. The results of the present study indicated that fermentable carbohydrates might improve the Nitrogen retention and bring the favorable changes in physiochemical nature of wheat straw. However, biological evaluation of urea treated wheat straw ensiled with fermentable carbohydrates is required.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.368-373
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• 2003

This experiment was conducted to examine the effects on the composition and rumen degradation in sacco of rice straw treated with animal urine (1 l of 2.9 g N/kg DM straw) and urea plus calcium hydroxide (2% urea plus 0.5% $Ca(OH)_2$/kg DM straw) as a cheap and relatively safe alternative for ammonia (3% ammonia solution/kg DM straw). Mold occurred in urine treated straw, but other treatments were apparently mold-free. All treatments significantly (p<0.05) increased CP content in the straw compared with untreated one. Ammonia-treated straw contained CP at about twice that in urine or urea-calcium hydroxide treated straw. NDF and hemicellulose contents decreased significantly (p<0.05) in all treatments, while ADF and cellulose showed no differences compared with untreated straw. The degradable fraction of DM, CP, NDF, hemicellulose and cellulose was significantly (p<0.05) increased for ammonia and urea-calcium hydroxide treatments than for urine treated or untreated straw except for CP of urine treated straw. Chemical treatment of rice straw increased the readily degradable fraction of CP, while it decreased the slowly degradable fraction for urine or urea-calcium hydroxide treated rice straw. The degradation rate of hemicellulose was significantly (p<0.05) increased for ammonia and urea-calcium hydroxide treatments compared to urine treated or untreated straw. However, no effect on cellulose degradation rate was found by any of the treatments. There was no improvement in the degradation kinetics caused by the urine treatment despite the improvement of the chemical composition. Although the improvement in rumen degradability was less in the urea-calcium hydroxide treatment than in the ammonia treatment, its use may be more desirable because it is less expensive to obtain, less hazardous nature, and readily available. For further improvement it is necessary to investigate the supplementation of slowly degradable nitrogen to ureacalcium hydroxide treated rice straw diet.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.114-120
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• 2000

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of slow-released nitrogen fertilizer(SRNF) on the growth and yield of rice. SRNF produced from wasted paper was applied to a clay loam paddy field comparing to urea fertilized field and only P-and K-fertilized field. Some agronomic components like as growth development and yield component were observed and physico-chemical properties of the soils were analyzed. Plant height and tiller numbers per hill showed higher in rice plant treated with SRNF than in one treated with urea at the early grow stage whereas they appeared to be all much the same at the end of growth stage. While the chlorophyll content in SRNF-treated rice shoot was higher than in urea-treated one, the photosynthetic activity in urea-treated rice shoot was slightly higher than in SRNF-treated rice. In harvested grain, the nitrogen content was higher than in SRNF treated rice than in urea treated rice, but in straws the content was less. At the harvesting stage, nitrogen uptake in grains was about 4% higher in SRNF-treated rice than in urea treated rice whereas in straws rather 20% lower. The N efficiency in SRNF treated rice was lower than in urea treated rice. In the soils treated with SRNF, pH, organic matter and phosphorus were higher than in the soils treated with urea. Total N content in SRNF treated soil was lower after experiment than in urea treated soil.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.522-527
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• 2002

The experiment was conducted for a period of 56 days with twelve Bangladeshi bull calves of average body weight of $127.20{\pm}11.34$ kg. The calves were divided into 3 groups having 4 animals in each. The animals were fed urea-treated rice straw designated as A) 4% urea-treated rice straw, B) 4% urea+4% soybean-treated rice straw and C) 4% urea+6% soybean-treated rice straw. In addition, all the animals were supplied 2 kg green grass, 350 g Til-oil-cake and 100 g common salt per 100 kg body weight of animals. Straw was treated with 4% urea solution and soybean meal at 4 and 6% were added to treated straw and kept for 48 h in double layer polythene bags under anaerobic condition. Urea treatment improved crude protein (CP) content of rice straw from 2.68 to 8.70% and it was further increased by 10.74 and 12.12% with the addition of 4 and 6% soybean meal. Dry matter (DM) intake (kg) was higher (p<0.05) in C (4.2) followed by B (4.1) and A (4.0). Crude protein intake was significantly higher (p<0.05) in group B and C than group A. Total live weight gains were 20.2, 24.8 and 25.6 kg for calves of group A, B and C respectively (p<0.01). The addition of soybean meal to treated rice straw did not affect the coefficients of digestibility of DM, OM, EE and NFE. However, CP and CF digestibility were significantly higher in group B and C (p<0.05). The values for digestible crude protein (DCP), digestible ether extract (DEE), digestible nitrogen free extract (DNFE) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) were significantly (p<0.05) higher in diet C and B in comparison to diet A, but there were no significant difference in digestible organic matter (DOM) and digestible crude fibre (DCF) value among the groups. It may be concluded that 4% urea treated rice straw can be fed to growing bull calves with 2 kg green grass and a small quantity of concentrate without any adverse effect on feed intake and growth. Moreover, soybean meal at 4 and 6% can be added to urea treated rice straw at the time of treatment for rapid hydrolyzing of urea, which resulted an improvement in nutrient digestibility and better utilization of rice straw for growth of growing bull calves.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.281-285
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• 1996

On farm demonstration of urea treatment (5 kg urea dissolved in 60 litre water/100kg) of straw was performed at 6 different sites and treated straw was stored by three different methods i.e., plastic covered, mud plastered and existing farmers technique (mud plastered on the top and open from sides) to determine the best storage method in field. Untreated and treated samples were taken after 5 week storage period and subjected to crude protein, crude fibre and cell wall constituents analysis. In situ dry matter digestibility of straw was measured by nylon bag technique in buffalo bulls. Crude protein content increased by 100 to 153 percent in treated straw stored by different methods. Maximum increase in crude protein of treated straw was noticed in mud plastered method. Urea treatment of straw resulted in significant decrease in crude fibre contents in all the storage methods. Treatment of straw enhanced the in situ digestibility by 25-49 percent and maximum digestibility (53%) was found in mud plastered storage method. It was concluded that the mud plastered storage method for urea treated straw was found to be the best at farm level.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.14-20
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• 1990

The cotton fabrics were treated with formaldehyde in the presence of zinc nitrate catalyst and urea. The effects of HCHO concentration, urea concentration, catalyst ratio, cure time and cure temperature on the physical properties of fabrics were studied. Cotton fabric finished with HCHO and urea had the lower tensile strength and tear strength than untreated one. These strength losses resulted from tighter oxymethylene crosslinks. The enhanced wrinkle recovery for fabric treated with formaldehyde in the presence of urea was indicative of the formation of urea-formaldehyde polymer. These experimental conditions were set up according to table of orthogonal arrays.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.774-780
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• 2000

For this study three types of block such as medicated urea-molasses-mineral block (MUMMB, 7% urea), urea-molasses-mineral blocks ($UMMB_a$ 7% urea) and urea-molasses-mineral blocks ($UMMB_b$ 21% urea) were prepared. Naturally infested 24 indigenous dairy cows with gastrointestinal nematodes were used to study the effect of MUMMB, $UMMB_a$ and $UMMB_b$ on different parameters (body weight, milk yield, serum urea level, milk urea level). The cows were offered normal diet added with 250 g block per cow for every day. Straw and green grasses were used as basal diet in the ration. The managemental facilities for all cows of each group were similar. Cows were stall fed, calves were tied up at night and had free access to their dam during day time. Milking was done once daily in the morning. The daily average live weight gains by MUMMB, $UMMB_a$, $UMMB_b$, and control group (no block) were 52.08 g, 44.44 g, 48.58 g, and 1.41 g respectively. The live weight gain were statistically significant (p<0.01) in comparison to control group. The highest daily milk yield was observed in MUMMB treated cows (2.39 L/d); followed by $UMMB_b$ treated cows (1.82 L/d) and $UMMB_a$ treated cows (2.16 L/d). The lowest milk yield was found in control group (1.54 L/d). This result differs significantly (p<0.05) between treated groups and also with control group. During urea-molasses-mineral blocks $UMMB_a$, $UMMB_b$ licking milk urea level increased from initial $22.76{\pm}2.35mg/dl$ to $35.46{\pm}4.80mg/dl$ and initial $22.86{\pm}2.96mg/dl$ to $40.66{\pm}0.87mg/dl$ respectively. This variation of milk urea level was statistically significant (p<0.001). Similarly during $UMMB_a$, and $UMMB_b$ blocks licking, serum urea level increased in both treated groups from initial $22.76{\pm}2.60mg/dl$ to $32.68{\pm}2.21$ and initial $23.70{\pm}2.78mg/dl$ to $40.48{\pm}3.24mg/dl$, respectively. This variation of serum urea level was also statistically significant (p<0.001). Use of MUMMB instead of UMMB was proved better for milk production and live weight gain in dairy cows under the village condition of Bangladesh where balanced ration for dairy cows are a major scarcity. And various concentration of urea in blocks positively affect milk and serum urea levels of indigenous dairy cows.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.481-486
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• 1994

The effect of neutralization of urea-treated rice straw with sulfuric acid was investigated. Long-cut (15-20 cm) and short-cut (2-3 cm) rice straw were treated with 6% urea for 21 days, and the treated straw was mixed with an acid-molasses solution to neutralize free ammonia and kept airtightly in a plastic bag for 24 hours. The neutralized and non-neutralized straw were dried and subjected to chemical analysis and in vitro dry matter (DM) digestibility determination. The in vitro DM digestibility as well as crude protein (CP) content were remarkably improved by neutralization. Short-cutting of the straw before treatment gave a better result than the long-cut samples. Neutralization with sulfuric acid also affected the chemical composition and increased sulfur content of samples. The CP thus fixed by neutralization was proven to be kept stable for 3 months, and in vitro DM digestibility was not affected by the storing period.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.1200-1204
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• 1999

Two experiments were conducted to study the effect of urea treatment of rice and wheat straw on feed intake, dry matter (DM) digestibility and milk yield of lactation buffaloes in their late lactation under farmers' management conditions in the western hills of Nepal during 1995 and 1997. Dry matter intake (DMI) from urea treated rice and wheat straw was not improved significantly (p<0.05) nor the total DMI of the lactating buffaloes was improved significantly. However, feeding urea treated rice straw increased straw DMI by 14.2% and total DMI by 10.63% units over the untreated rice straw. Similarly, the increase in straw and total DMI were 20.18 and 17.40% units over the untreated wheat straw fed animals. Although there was no significant effect of urea treatment of both straw on DM digestibility, it was higher for treated than untreated straw at all locations. An overall increment of 18.1% units for rice straw and 13.3% units for wheat straw was observed. There was a significant effect (p<0.01) of feeding urea treated rice and wheat straw on the milk yield of lactating buffaloes during late lactation under farmers conditions. Post experiment milk yield was also significantly (p<0.05) higher for the animals fed treated straw in both the experiments. Buffalo milk yield was also significantly affected by breed (p<0.01), location (p<0.01) and parity (p<0.01) of the animals. General response of the farmers about the technology and their observed effect on animal performance was also very positive.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.1295-1303
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different physical forms and urea treatment of rice straw on feed intake, rumen fermentation, and milk production. Four, multiparous Holstein crossbred dairy cows in mid-lactation with initial body weight (BW) of $409{\pm}20kg$ were randomly assigned according to a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design to receive four dietary treatments. The dietary treatments were as follows: untreated, long form rice straw (LRS), urea-treated (5%), long form rice straw (5% ULRS), urea-treated (2.5%), long form rice straw (2.5% ULRS) and urea-treated (2.5%), chopped (4 cm) rice straw (2.5% UCRS). Cows were fed with concentrate diets at a ratio of concentrate to milk yield of 1:2 and rice straw was fed ad libitum. The findings revealed significant improvements in total DM intake and digestibility by using long and short forms of urea-treated rice straw (p<0.05). Ruminal pH was not altered among all treatments (p>0.05), whereas ruminal $NH_3$-N, BUN and MUN were found to be increased (p<0.01) by urea-treated rice straw as compared with untreated rice straw. Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) concentrations especially those of acetic acid were decreased (p<0.05) and those of propionic acid were increased (p<0.05), thus acetic acid:propionic acid was subsequently lowered (p<0.05) in cows fed with long or short forms of urea-treated rice straw. The 2.5% ULRS and 2.5% UCRS had greater microbial protein synthesis and was greatest when cows were fed with 5% ULRS. The urea-treated rice straw fed groups had increased milk yield (p<0.05), while lower feed cost and greater economic return was in the 2.5% ULRS and 2.5% UCRS (p<0.01). From these results, it could be concluded that 2.5% ULRS could replace 5% ULRS used as a roughage source to maintain feed intake, rumen fermentation, efficiency of microbial protein synthesis, milk production and economical return in mid-lactating dairy cows.