Fermented straw as livestock feed

Wheat and rice straws often form the main roughage in the diet of livestock, but they are poor in protein and digestible nutrients. Now researchers at two Indian universities have developed a technique for producing fermented straw. The straw is spread in a layer 8-10 cm thick and sprayed with a solution of 3-4 kg of urea in water giving a final moisture level of 50 to 70%. It is then thoroughly mixed and stacked for one to four weeks before being sun dried for easy storage. Besides enriching the straw with microbial protein the method also improves the nutritive value of the fermented straw. When the preparation is stacked, bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes build up and degrade the urea to release ammonia. This ammonia penetrates the cell walls rendering the fibre more easily accessible than in untreated straw. The fermented straw is free from undesirable bacteria and toxins and is said to be superior in quality to straw improved using other methods. It supports a body weight gain of about 250 g per day and milk production of up to 6 kg. For more details, contact: International Agricultural Development 19 Woodford Close Caversham, Reading Berks RG4 7HN UKWheat and rice straws often form the main roughage in the diet of livestock, but they are poor in protein and digestible nutrients. Now researchers at two Indian universities have developed a technique for producing fermented straw.The straw is..