EFFECT OF UREA TREATMENT ON CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND IN VITRO DIGESTIBILITY OF MAIZE COBS

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the changes in the chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of maize cob treated with a guided levels of urea, such that Treatments 1, (untreated), T2, (0.5%), T3, (1%), T4 (1.5%) and T5 (2.0%). The result obtained showed a wide variation in the proximate composition (%) with crude protein ranging from 2.50 to 12.81, crude fiber 7.85 to 10.75, and Ether extract, 5.38 to 6.19. The contents of NDE. ADF and ADL also differed significantly (P<0.05). The estimated organic matter digestibility (OMD,%) ranged from 43.66 to 56.94 and metabolizable energy (MJ/KgDM) ranged from 7.60 to 14.47. The potential extent of degradation (a +b) ml was enhanced with the highest value (39.00) obtained in T4, The urea treated maize cob enhanced OMD, ME and b. The results obtained suggest that urea treatment of maize cob is an effective method of treatment of feed for consumption ofruminants.