J. Anim Sci.
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Brown, W. F.
Right arrow Articles by Adjei, M. B.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Brown, W. F.
Right arrow Articles by Adjei, M. B.

Journal of Animal Science, Vol 73, Issue 10 3085-3093, Copyright © 1995 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Urea ammoniation effects on the feeding value of guineagrass (Panicum maximum) hay

W. F. Brown and M. B. Adjei
Range Cattle Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Ona 33865, USA.

Laboratory, digestion, and growth studies evaluated urea as a source of ammoniation for quality improvement in guineagrass (Panicum maximum) hay. In a laboratory trial, 5.0-kg portions of hay were reconstituted with water to yield final forage moisture concentrations or 25 of 40% and treated with urea at 0, 4, 6, or 8% of the forage DM, with or without urease addition. Main effects of forage moisture or urease addition did not influence (P > .10) CP or NDF concentration or in vitro OM disappearance (IVOMD) of the guineagrass hay. Hay CP concentration and IVOMD increased linearly (P < .01), whereas concentrations of hemicellulose and ADL decreased linearly (P < .05) with increasing urea level. In other experiments, round bales of hay (320 kg) were reconstituted with water to yield final forage moisture concentrations of 25 or 40% and treated with urea at 0, 4, or 6% of the forage DM. The urea solution was applied as a spray onto the cut edges of the bales, or by low pressure (10 psi) injection. Two- and three-way interactions (P < .05) existed among forage moisture concentration, urea application method, and urea level for CP and NDF concentration and IVOMD of the guineagrass hay. Greatest enhancements in these forage quality characteristics were obtained when the urea solution was sprayed onto the hay at the 25% forage moisture concentration. In two digestion and two growth trials, round bales of hay were treated with 0, 4, and 6% urea sprayed onto the hay at the 25% forage moisture level. In each growth trial, 30 St. Croix white hair castrated male sheep (Trial 1:34 +/- 5.5 kg, Trial 2: 17 +/- 3.5 kg) were allotted to six pens of five head each, resulting in two pens per treatment. In the digestion trials, six similar sheep were used in a replicated 3 x 3 Latin square design. In the digestion and growth trials, hay intake increased in a quadratic (P < .05) manner with increasing urea level. Apparent NDF and ADF digestibilities increased linearly (P < .05) with increasing urea level. Linear improvements in ADG (P < .05) and gain/feed (P < .07) were observed with increasing urea level. Urea ammoniation offers potential for improving the feeding value of tropical forages and provides an option for quality forage during the dry season.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J ANIM SCIHome page
N. A. Krueger, A. T. Adesogan, C. R. Staples, W. K. Krueger, S. C. Kim, R. C. Littell, and L. E. Sollenberger
Effect of method of applying fibrolytic enzymes or ammonia to Bermudagrass hay on feed intake, digestion, and growth of beef steers
J Anim Sci, April 1, 2008; 86(4): 882 - 889.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1995 by the American Society of Animal Science.