IN-SACCO DIGESTIBILITY OF DRY-MATTER OF W HEAT-STRAW AFTER TREATMENT WITH UREA-SACCHAROSE MIXTURES

Chopped wheat straw (1 -5 mm length) was mixed with 5% urea and 2.5 or 5.0% sucrose respectively. The water content of the mixtures was adju sted to 20, 30, 40 and 55% respectively. The mixtures were storaged in preserving jars (1.5 l volume) at 25-degrees-C for 3, 7 and 14 days r espectively. The in situ digestibility of dry matter (DM) of samples w as investigated in the rumen of sheep with the nylon bag technique. Th e values of DM-disappearance were corrected with regard to the DM-loss es after washing the bags with contents before the rumen incubation. T he DM-digestibility of the straw was the highest after supplementation with sucrose, a water content of 30 to 40% and a storage time of 3 to 7 days (up to 53.6% digestibility). The ammonia treatment effect of t he straw from the hydrolysed urea was lower when more volatile fatty a cids were produced in the case of 5% sucrose supplement and 55% water content. The results showed that a supplementation with a soluble carb ohydrat (saccharose) to the urea treatment of straw only under specifi c conditions (temperature, moisture and amount of supplement) in advan tage is.