Vol. 9, Issue 11, Part E (2025)

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of replacing wheat straw with urad straw in TMR on feed intake, nutrient digestibility and feed cost analysis in adult cattle. 15 cattle were used in an experiment based on completely randomised design for 70 days with five animals in each of three treatments. The animals received treatments as total mixed ration viz. T₁: TMR with concentrate mixture (30%) and wheat straw (70%); T₂: TMR with concentrate mixture (30%), wheat straw (35%) and urad straw (35%); and T₃: TMR with concentrate mixture (30%) and urad straw (70%). Average daily DMI was significantly (p<0.05) higher in T₂ and remained at par with T₃, as compared to control group (T₁). The average TDN intake in terms of kg/d, and CP and DCP intake in terms of g/d were significantly (p<0.05) higher in T₃ and T₂ as compared to the control group (T₁). Digestibility of DM, OM, EE, CF, NFE, NDF and Hemicellulose was significantly (p<0.05) higher in T₃ and T₂ than control group (T₁). However, digestibility of crude protein, acid detergent fibre and cellulose was statistically similar (p>0.05). The total cost (Rs.) and daily cost (Rs.) of feeding was non-significantly (p>0.05) different between treatment groups.