UTILIZATION OF RICE STRAW FOR FEEDING RUMINANTS: 2- PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF LACTATING BUFFALOES FED RICE STRAW SILAGE

Nutritional evaluation of rice straw silage was carried out with Sakha 102 and
Giza 177 varieties sprinkled by El-Mufeed liquid and Effective Microorgansmis(EM1)
with or without urea supplementation as well as untreated or ammoniated rice straw
using adult Ossimi 1: Finnish crossbred rams- Also, feeding trial was concluded using
twelve lactating buffaloes in the 3'Ifl to the 5':1 of lactation season, weighing 550—650 kg
used after 8 weeks of lactation start in compete switch—back design to evaluate the
three experimental rations contained different forms of rice straw. The first ration (R1)
contained concentrate feed mixture (CFM) and untreated rice straw (URS). the
second ration (R2) contained CFM and ammoniated rice straw (ARS), while the third
ration (R3) contained CFM and rice straw silage (R33).
Giza 1?? rice straw silage with EM and urea supplementation had significantly
(Ps0.05) the highest digestibility coefficients of DM, OM and NFE and subsequently
TDN, DE and DCP values. Moreover, nutrients digestibility and nutritive values
increased significantly (P<D-05) with urea supplementation. Rice straw silage
recorded significantly the highest digestibility coefficients of all nutrients except EE
and subsequently nutritive values followed by ammoniated rice straw.
The digestibility coefficients of UN! for R3 and OM, CP and NFE and
(subsequently TDN, DE and DCP values) for R2 and R3 were significantly (Pr-10.05)
higher compared to R1. However, CF and EE digestibilities were nearly similar for the
different rations.
Buffaloes fed R1 showed the highest intake of CFM compared with those fed R2
or R3. Moreover, lactating buffaloes fed R1 recorded significantly (Ps0.05) the highest
DM intake and the lowest DCP intake, followed by those fed R2, while those fed R3
showed the opposite trend. Buffaloes fed R3 recorded significantly (Pr-IODS) the
highest concentrations of TVFA's and ammonia—N followed by those fed R2, while
buffaloes fed R1 had the lowest concentrations.
Lactating buffaloes fed R2 and R3 showed significantly (9:005) the higher daily
milk yield compared to those fed R1. However, there were no significant (Psflflfi)
differences in milk composition- Buffaloes fed R2 and R3 had better feed conversion for
DM, TDN and DE compared to those fed R1. Average daily feed cost and feed cost! 1
kg 7% FCM were significantly higher, while the output of milk yield, net output and net
output improvement were significantly lower for buffaloes fed R1 compared with those
 
fed R2 and R3.