In sacco Nutritional Evaluation of Wheat Straw Varieties Ali Nazim*, Singh Mahendra Department of Animal Sciences, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263 145, India. *Reprint request: Dr. Nazim Ali, Animal Production Department, S.K.N. College of Agriculture (Rajasthan Agricultural University), Jobner, Distt. Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
Abstract Six wheat straw varieties (HD-2428, HD-2329, Raj-3037, Raj-1972, PBW-154 and WL711) profusely grown in India, were evaluated for chemical constituents, in sacco nutrient digestibility and rate of nutrient disappearance. The straw samples were incubated for 72h to determine DM disappearance and for rate of degradation at 0, 12, 24, 48 and 72h. Two varieties with the highest and the lowest dry matter digestibility were subjected to rate of disappearance study. Four rumen cannulated, two each of castrated male buffalo and cattle, were used. A variation (% unit) of 1.025 for CP, 8.17 for NDF, 5.66 for ADF, 7.89 for cellulose and 2.03 for lignin content was observed among different varieties of wheat straw. Among the varieties evaluated, variety WL-711 had the highest and Raj-3077 had the lowest dry matter digestibility. A variation of 10 per cent units in dry matter digestibility was noticed between best and least digestible straw variety. The nutrient disappearance rate from straw samples between 12 to 24h of incubation was critical to make difference in total disappearance. The rate of disappearance was similar among all nutrients. The animal species had no significant influence on straw digestibility. The crude protein content of straw exerted a linear correlation with dry matter digestibility (r=0.59, P<0.05), negative correlation (−0.563, P<0.05) with cellulose content, and positive (P<0.05) correlation with dry matter (0.567) and hemicellulose (0.567) digestibility. It is concluded that plant breeders may undertake breeding programmes to improve CP and to reduce lignin content of straws for higher nutrient digestibility. Top Key words Wheat straw, Nutritional evaluation, Ruminants. Top |