Effects of urea - ammoniation and cotton seed cake supplementation on the utilization of sorghum stover by sheep

The effects cotton seed cake (CSC) supplementation and urea-ammoniation on utilization of sorghum stover by Yankasa sheep was studied. Chopped sorghum stover was ensiled with fertilizer grade urea at 4% urea (w/w), the urea being dissolved in water to reconstitute the silage to 50% DM. The experiment was a 2x3 factorial design of unammoniated and ammoniated sorghum stover and three levels of CSC supplementation (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% of the sheep body weight). The growth trial was conducted with 24 yearling sheep, averaging 18.2 kg liveweight and lasted for 60 days. Intake of sorghum stover by sheep was Improved (P<0.05) by urea-ammoniation, not significant (P>0.05). Increasing the level of supplementation with CSC improved (P>0.05) stover intake by sheep fed the ammoniation of unammonlated stover, but resulted in decreased (P>0.05) intake of ammonlated by sheep. Sheep liveweight gains were improved by ammoniation and supplementation (P<0.01). The interaction between urea-ammoniation of stover and supplementation resulted in better (P<0.05) live weight going in sheep. Twelve Yankasa ruang averaging 16.9 kg liveweight were Ammoniation and supplementation did not affect DM, NDF and ADF digestibilities (P>.05), but resulted in increase (P<0.05) in cellulose and hemicellulose digestion. Ammoniation and supplementation resulted in N-balance of the sheep. Ammoniation resulted in marked Increases (P <0.01) in rumen ammonia concentrations, but increasing 50% DM. The material was epsiled above the level of supplementation did not appreciably(P<0.05) silled rumen ammonia concentrate