Paddy straw as animal feed is economical, beneficial: Expert
Stubble burning is of grave concern these days and Punjab produces a large quantity of paddy straw every year which can be used as animal feed to increase profitability in dairy farming and also solve the problem of burning crop residue.
Generally, paddy straw is used to make animal sheds and bedding but it can be treated with urea and molasses to be used as animal feed, said Dr JS Lamba, animal nutritionist at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana.
Dr Lamba said that a farmer can prepare a solution by adding 1 kg of urea and 3 kg of molasses in 30 litres of water. Sprinkle or spray the urea and molasses solution on 1 quintal of paddy straw and mix it with trangali or in a Total Mixed Ration machine in such a way that the whole paddy straw layer gets wet with urea-molasses solution. It will be ready to feed animals 15 minutes after mixing. By adding 25 gram salt and 50 gram mineral mixture to paddy straw, it can be used for dairy animals with green fodder and concentrate mixture. For dry animals, it can be fed along with green fodder.
Describing the advantages of paddy straw, he said that it enhances its nutritive value as protein content is increased. The treated straw becomes soft and more palatable. Paddy straw is cheaper than wheat straw which reduces the cost of feed. Feeding of urea-treated paddy straw increases/improves the growth of young animals and also increases the milk production among cattle. Also, the environment remains clean as paddy straw will not be burnt in the fields.
Dr Lamba also cautioned farmers to take some precautions. Never feed the urea-treated paddy straw to calves of less than six months of age. While using urea-treated paddy straw in animal feed, take care that the amount of urea in the concentrate is not high. If the treated paddy straw is infected with mould, then it should not be used in feeding animals.
Horses and pigs should not be given urea-treated paddy straw for feeding, he pointed out.
Animal nutritionist cautions farmers
Dr JS Lamba, animal nutritionist at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, also cautioned farmers to take some precautions. Never feed the urea-treated paddy straw to calves of less than six months of age. While using urea-treated paddy straw in animal feed, take care that the amount of urea in the concentrate is not high. If the treated paddy straw is infected with mould, then it should not be used in feeding animals.
