123
ingredients, such as rice bran, copra meal, molasses, mono di-calcium phosphate,
and urea. The FTRMs had remarkable results in terms of ADG and milk production
of dairy buffaloes. The FTMR, composed of 20% rice straw in combination with
50% banana byproducts, resulted in a 960-g ADG compared to a 810-g ADG of
growing buffaloes in the control ration. This brought an 18.9% increase in the
growth rate of the buffaloes. On the other hand, FTMR, composed of 28% rice straw
combined with 25% water hyacinth, gave a 670-g ADG compared to only a 520-g
ADG for the control diet, which is equivalent to an increase of 28.85%. The increase
in ADG of growing buffaloes was attributed to the increase in daily feed intake from
1.7% (control) to 2.13% (50% banana + RS) and from 2.01% (control) to 2.65%
(25% water lily +RS) of the body weight. In addition, there was an increase in DM
digestibility (from 50.95% to 60.35%) and CP digestibility (62.30–66.33%) for rice
straw with 50% banana byproducts. The combination of RS with 25% water lily
also improved the DM (50.10% vs. 57.96%) and CP digestibility (58.08% vs
61.96%), respectively.
The FTMR with 28% rice straw plus 25% water hyacinth was recommended
over the control diet as shown by a 100-g milk difference over the control (6.77 vs
6.67 kg day
−1
) or FTMR with 50% banana byproducts with a 400-g milk difference
(6.77 vs 6.37 kg) over the FTMR with 50% banana byproducts. The observations
were also supported by the increase in the daily DM intake; 2.5% vs 2.3% of body
weight of the cows.
The ration composed of rice straw with supplementary protein, energy, and/or
minerals have been shown to optimize rumen function and maximize the utilization
or intake of rice straw. Chenost and Kayouli (1997) emphasized that rumen microorganisms should be provided with needed nutrients for their growth and selfmultiplication so that degradation of the cell walls of straw is maximized. This also
leads to conditions for sustainable process of cellulolysis. In a field trial, Warly et al.
(1992) showed that a rice straw ration with supplementary soybean meal increased
both degradability and intake of the animals. Untreated rice straw is low in protein
when this is supplemented with cottonseed meal (Wanapat et al. 1996) or urea
Table 7.1 ADG in weight of growing and lactating buffaloes fed fermented total mixed ration
composed of rice straw and banana byproducts or water hyacinth
Item
Control diet
Rice straw + banana
byproducts
Rice straw + water
hyacinth
25%
50%
25%
50%
Growing buffaloes, #
5
5
5
5
5
Initial weight, kg
218.60
220.60
222.00 247.80
247.80
Final weight, kg
293.60
282.20
304.40 315.00
268.40
ADG, kg
0.81
0.68
0.96
0.67
0.28
Lactating buffaloes, #
5
5
5
5
5
Total milk yield, kg 120d
−1
800.40
752.40
764.00 812.00
793.20
Milk yield, kg d
−1
6.67
6.27
6.37
6.77
6.61
7 Rice Straw-Based Fodder for Ruminants
ingredients, such as rice bran, copra meal, molasses, mono di-calcium phosphate,
and urea. The FTRMs had remarkable results in terms of ADG and milk production
of dairy buffaloes. The FTMR, composed of 20% rice straw in combination with
50% banana byproducts, resulted in a 960-g ADG compared to a 810-g ADG of
growing buffaloes in the control ration. This brought an 18.9% increase in the
growth rate of the buffaloes. On the other hand, FTMR, composed of 28% rice straw
combined with 25% water hyacinth, gave a 670-g ADG compared to only a 520-g
ADG for the control diet, which is equivalent to an increase of 28.85%. The increase
in ADG of growing buffaloes was attributed to the increase in daily feed intake from
1.7% (control) to 2.13% (50% banana + RS) and from 2.01% (control) to 2.65%
(25% water lily +RS) of the body weight. In addition, there was an increase in DM
digestibility (from 50.95% to 60.35%) and CP digestibility (62.30–66.33%) for rice
straw with 50% banana byproducts. The combination of RS with 25% water lily
also improved the DM (50.10% vs. 57.96%) and CP digestibility (58.08% vs
61.96%), respectively.
The FTMR with 28% rice straw plus 25% water hyacinth was recommended
over the control diet as shown by a 100-g milk difference over the control (6.77 vs
6.67 kg day
−1
) or FTMR with 50% banana byproducts with a 400-g milk difference
(6.77 vs 6.37 kg) over the FTMR with 50% banana byproducts. The observations
were also supported by the increase in the daily DM intake; 2.5% vs 2.3% of body
weight of the cows.
The ration composed of rice straw with supplementary protein, energy, and/or
minerals have been shown to optimize rumen function and maximize the utilization
or intake of rice straw. Chenost and Kayouli (1997) emphasized that rumen microorganisms should be provided with needed nutrients for their growth and selfmultiplication so that degradation of the cell walls of straw is maximized. This also
leads to conditions for sustainable process of cellulolysis. In a field trial, Warly et al.
(1992) showed that a rice straw ration with supplementary soybean meal increased
both degradability and intake of the animals. Untreated rice straw is low in protein
when this is supplemented with cottonseed meal (Wanapat et al. 1996) or urea
Table 7.1 ADG in weight of growing and lactating buffaloes fed fermented total mixed ration
composed of rice straw and banana byproducts or water hyacinth
Item
Control diet
Rice straw + banana
byproducts
Rice straw + water
hyacinth
25%
50%
25%
50%
Growing buffaloes, #
5
5
5
5
5
Initial weight, kg
218.60
220.60
222.00 247.80
247.80
Final weight, kg
293.60
282.20
304.40 315.00
268.40
ADG, kg
0.81
0.68
0.96
0.67
0.28
Lactating buffaloes, #
5
5
5
5
5
Total milk yield, kg 120d
−1
800.40
752.40
764.00 812.00
793.20
Milk yield, kg d
−1
6.67
6.27
6.37
6.77
6.61
7 Rice Straw-Based Fodder for Ruminants