This document discusses urea treatment of cereal straw to increase its nutritional value for animal feed. Urea treatment involves chopping straw and moistening it with a 2.5-5% urea solution, then covering it to allow fermentation for several weeks. The ammonia released from hydrolyzed urea weakens the lignified cell walls and increases digestibility. Properly treated and stored material can be fed to animals for several months. The treatment process, benefits, precautions, and effect on straw nutrients are described over multiple pages.

1. Urea treatment of Cereal straw
16-Arid-3171
composed by ; Touqeer Yazdan 1
Created by:
AN-201
Submitted To: Dr. Naeem Tahir

2. Introduction
Almost all of the domesticated animals in lesser
developed countries and even some in the
developed world exist mainly on poor quality plant
materials.
Perhaps the most abundant feed in most region is
straw remaining after harvest of cereal grains.
Straw can provide some carbohydrates but is very
deficient in other nutrients.
Also because of high lignin content , digestibility is
poor. Methods are available for ,however ,to
increase the digestibility of poor quality feeds.
composed by ; Touqeer Yazdan 2

3. Urea treatment of wheat straw
One of the most successful procedure to improve
digestibility of crude plant material is through urea.
This weakens the hard cell walls , allowing better
penetration by rumen microorganisms to produce more
effective fermentation and liberation of nutrients.
After chopping the straw is moistened with urea
solution{2.5-5%} and usually cover for several weeks.
composed by ; Touqeer Yazdan 3

4. Ammonia , released from the urea
,weakens the lignified the outer wall and
increase the digestibility of the straw.
Once treated and if properly covered to
preserve anaerobic conditions , the urea
ensiled material can be stored for several
months
composed by ; Touqeer Yazdan 4

5. Requirement
100 kg of wheat straw
40% of water
4 kg of urea
Polythene sheet
Water cane
Bucket
composed by ; Touqeer Yazdan 5

6. Procedure
Polythene sheet should be spread over on
the selected site.
The one fourth wheat straw spread over
the polythene sheet.
The water urea solution sprinkle over the
wheat straw and mix properly.
The next one fourth wheat straw spread
over and again sprinkles the urea solution.
Air tight the treated straw and kept for 21
days
composed by ; Touqeer Yazdan 6

7. Benefits
Treated wheat straw has enhance the
nutritive value then untreated paddy
straw.
Treated wheat straw is liked by cattle.
Increase palatability.
Feed intake will increase.
Maintained the health quality
composed by ; Touqeer Yazdan 7

8. Precaution
The calf of below six month should not be
fed with treated straw.
The pregnant cattle are also not fed with
treated straw.
The fungal growth straw should not be
taken for urea treatment of wheat straw.
The treated straw will be fed after
exposure of air for at least 10 minutes.
The starting quantity of urea treatment of
wheat straw should be regulated from
lesser quantity to higher in periodic
manner .
composed by ; Touqeer Yazdan 8

9. Urea toxicity can take place due to higher
intakes within a shorter period-thus limit
feeding ,provide adequate soluble
carbohydrates.
Urea toxicity is characterized by ureasiness
, tremors , excessive salivation, rapid
breathing ,incoordination , bloat , tetany .
due to rise in blood ammonia levels. rise of
rumen pH cease the rumen function
An emergency treatment for urea poisoning
is drenching of vinegar
composed by ; Touqeer Yazdan 9

10. Effect of urea treatment on wheat straw nutrients
Nutrients Untreated wheat
straw
Urea-treated
wheat straw
CP 4.2± 0.3a 9.3±0.5b
NDF 74.1± 0.3a 60.6± 1.2b
ADF 44.6± 0.8a 56.3± 1.1b
Gross
energy
61.3± 1.1 61.4± 1.2
composed by ; Touqeer Yazdan 10

11. Urea Treatment Principle
CO(NH2) 2 + H2O urease 2NH3+ CO2
Once hydrolysis is completed
One molecule of urea generate 2 molecules
of ammonia.
5 kg of urea thus allows production of 2.83
kg of ammonia
composed by ; Touqeer Yazdan 11

12. Weighing of ureacomposed by ; Touqeer Yazdan 12

13. Mixing Urea with watercomposed by ; Touqeer Yazdan 13

14. An empty 1 x 2 x 1 m pit for urea treatment
composed by ; Touqeer Yazdan 14

15. Packing teff straw mixed with urea-water
solution in a pit lined with heavy plastic.composed by ; Touqeer Yazdan 15

16. A shade over urea treatment pit
composed by ; Touqeer Yazdan 16

17. Treated straw (left) and untreated straw (right)composed by ; Touqeer Yazdan 17

18. composed by ; Touqeer Yazdan 18

19. composed by ; Touqeer Yazdan 19