<b>Apparent digestibility of nutrients of diet containing stargrass(<em>Cynodon nlemfuensis</em> Vanderyst) hay treated with urea</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v29i2.259

Abstract

This study was carried out toevaluate the effect of Stargrass (Cynodon nlemfuensis Vanderyst) hay treated with urea in thediet digestibility fed to sheep. Hays were treated with 2, 4 and 6% of urea in dry matter.Stargrass bales were placed on a plastic tent, in two layers of sixteen bales per treatment. After adding the urea diluted in water, the bales were covered with tent to allow a hermetic storage condition during the 60 days. To determine the digestibility coefficient, four lambs (26 kg) were used. Diet was calculated with increasing levels of CP (11.78, 13.24, 16.11 and 16.83%) and a Latin square design (4 x 4) was used. DM, OM and ADF apparent digestibility increased linearly with growing levels of urea. There was a quadratic effect tothe NDF, hemicellulose and cellulose digestibility, with higher values being observed forhay treated with 4% of urea. CP digestibility also showed a quadratic effect, with lowervalues being observed for hay treated with 2% of urea. It was concluded that ammoniationsof Stargrass hay with 4% to 6% of urea presents a better nutritional quality of forage.