122
systems because of the additional input costs involve as well as the limitation of
skills for using enzyme products.
7.4 Effects of Feeding Pure or Pretreated Rice Straw
to Ruminants
Generally, in feeding dry cows, rice straw can be used for about 50% of the ration.
Additional urea-molasses mineral blocks could be used as supplements to support
the requirement of the dry cows. Rations with rice straw greater than 50% would
result in a declining body weight of the cows.
For cows with calves, the use of rice straw should not exceed 25% of the total
ration, with the remaining 75% being good-quality hay or legumes or a concentrate
supplement. When feeding lactating cows, rice straw alone is not adequate to support milk synthesis or milk production. Supplementary feeds, such as dairy concentrates or dried legumes, are required to augment the deficient nutrients in rice straw
so that the goal of supporting normal milk production is achieved.
One consideration in feeding rice straw to ruminants is to balance the quantity of
phosphorus and other trace minerals in the ration. Rice straw has lower phosphorus
and trace mineral contents, thus supplementation with trace minerals and phosphorus, especially in high-yielding cows, is necessary.
7.4.1 Effects of Urea-Treated Rice Straw in Ruminants
Aquino et al. (2016) reported on the effects of feeding urea-molasses-treated rice
straw to dairy buffaloes through the community science and technology-based farm
project involving 30 dairy buffalo farmers in the Philippines. The farmers were
trained to produce treated rice straw using urea-molasses solution (UMS). The
UMS consisted of 2% urea, 5% molasses, and 93% water at a 2-parts rice straw to
1-part UMS ratio. The treated rice straw was allowed to partially ferment in silage
bags for 21 days before feeding to buffaloes. Results of feeding UMS-treated rice
straw (UMTRS) to dairy buffaloes showed a total milk production of 974 kg cow
−1
in 210 milking days. In contrast, buffaloes fed no UMTRS produced 777 kg of milk
during the same lactation period. Comparing the effect of UMTRS feeding with that
of pure rice straw showed a difference of 147 kg milk production or with a milk
yield difference of 0.7 kg milk cow
−1
day
−1
. It was also noted that the UMS improves
the crude protein content of treated rice straw from 4.7% to 7.9% and the DM
digestibility of rice straw was increased from 47% to 55%.
In a separate study, Aquino et al. (2018) used fermented total-mixed rations
(FTMRs) composed of rice straw (RS) in combinations with banana byproducts or
water hyacinth (Table 7.1). The formulated FTMRs composed of other feed
D. Aquino et al.
systems because of the additional input costs involve as well as the limitation of
skills for using enzyme products.
7.4 Effects of Feeding Pure or Pretreated Rice Straw
to Ruminants
Generally, in feeding dry cows, rice straw can be used for about 50% of the ration.
Additional urea-molasses mineral blocks could be used as supplements to support
the requirement of the dry cows. Rations with rice straw greater than 50% would
result in a declining body weight of the cows.
For cows with calves, the use of rice straw should not exceed 25% of the total
ration, with the remaining 75% being good-quality hay or legumes or a concentrate
supplement. When feeding lactating cows, rice straw alone is not adequate to support milk synthesis or milk production. Supplementary feeds, such as dairy concentrates or dried legumes, are required to augment the deficient nutrients in rice straw
so that the goal of supporting normal milk production is achieved.
One consideration in feeding rice straw to ruminants is to balance the quantity of
phosphorus and other trace minerals in the ration. Rice straw has lower phosphorus
and trace mineral contents, thus supplementation with trace minerals and phosphorus, especially in high-yielding cows, is necessary.
7.4.1 Effects of Urea-Treated Rice Straw in Ruminants
Aquino et al. (2016) reported on the effects of feeding urea-molasses-treated rice
straw to dairy buffaloes through the community science and technology-based farm
project involving 30 dairy buffalo farmers in the Philippines. The farmers were
trained to produce treated rice straw using urea-molasses solution (UMS). The
UMS consisted of 2% urea, 5% molasses, and 93% water at a 2-parts rice straw to
1-part UMS ratio. The treated rice straw was allowed to partially ferment in silage
bags for 21 days before feeding to buffaloes. Results of feeding UMS-treated rice
straw (UMTRS) to dairy buffaloes showed a total milk production of 974 kg cow
−1
in 210 milking days. In contrast, buffaloes fed no UMTRS produced 777 kg of milk
during the same lactation period. Comparing the effect of UMTRS feeding with that
of pure rice straw showed a difference of 147 kg milk production or with a milk
yield difference of 0.7 kg milk cow
−1
day
−1
. It was also noted that the UMS improves
the crude protein content of treated rice straw from 4.7% to 7.9% and the DM
digestibility of rice straw was increased from 47% to 55%.
In a separate study, Aquino et al. (2018) used fermented total-mixed rations
(FTMRs) composed of rice straw (RS) in combinations with banana byproducts or
water hyacinth (Table 7.1). The formulated FTMRs composed of other feed
D. Aquino et al.