Evaluation of reconstituted and urea treated bajra grains as livestock feed

Raw bajra grains (R) were reconstituted (Re) and treated with urea at 1 (U1), 4 (U4), 6 (U6) and 10% (Ui10) levels. CP content of bajra grains remained unaltered due to reconstitution, however, increasing (P<0.01) trend of CP was observed in 1, 4, 6 and 10% urea treated grains. Lactic acid content increased (P<0.01) from 0.39 per cent in raw to 2.21 per cent in reconstituted grains, however, in urea treated grains it was non detectable. Starch content decreased due to reconstitution and urea treatment of grains. Reconstitution of bajra grains increased (P<0.01) its nitrogen solubility. In vitro gas production studies revealed that total gas production was higher (P<0.01) in Re, U1 and U4 than in R, U6 and U10, whereas methane production was lowest (P<0.01) in Re and highest in U10. A marginal decline in pH due to reconstitution and an increase due to urea treatments of bajra grains was recorded. Total-N content was similar in R, Re, U1, and U4, but was higher (P<0.01) in U6 and U10. Ammonia -N contents increased (P<0.01) linearly with increase in level of urea (U4-U10). Precipitatable nitrogen was higher (P<0.01) in R to U6 than in U10 treatment. In situ nitrogen dcgradability and DM disappearance was higher (P<0.01) in reconstituted as well as urea treated than raw bajra grains. The disappearance increased (P<0.01) with an increase in urea levels as well as with the prolonged incubation period.