Effect of formaldehyde and Urea Treatments on the Nutritive Value of Forages Fed to Sheep and Goats

Abstract

TWO digestion and nitrogen (N) - balance trials were conducted on sheep and goats to study the effect of formaldehyde on ration digestibility. In the 1st trial, four diets were tested: (R1) concentrate feed mixture (CFM) + berseem hay; (R2) CFM treated with formaldehyde (1% of CFM-CP) + berseem hay; (R3) CFM + rice straw; (R4) CFM treated with formaldehyde + rice straw. Rumen pH and blood serum urea-N (mg/100 ml serum) were higher (P < 0.01) in animals fed formaldehyde treated diets. The nutritive value of intake in terms of starch value or DCP (g/kgw 0.75), CP and cellulose digestibility, N-balance and rumen ammonia-N (mg/100 ml liquor) were lower (P < 0.01) than in animals fed diets without formaldehyde treatment. Sheep showed higher (P < 0.01) digestibility for cellulose and hemicellulose than goats within the four rations. In the 2nd trial the effect of formaldehyde was studied in diets added with urea. Two diets were tested: (RU1) CFM + rice straw + urea; (RU2) CFM + rice straw + urea + formaldehyde. Rumen ammonia-N and blood serum urea-N (mg/100 ml) were higher (P < 0.01) in animals fed diet (RU1). The nutritive value of diet (RU2) as starch value or DCP (g/kgw0.75), CP, hemicellulose & cellulose digestibility and N-balance were (P < 0.01) higher than diet (RU1). Goats showed higher (P < 0.05) roughage intake (g/kg0.75) and digestion in both diets. Key words: Formaldehyde, Urea, Sheep, Goats.