NPN COMPOUNDS FOR RICE GRUEL BASED DIETS IN TROPICAL RUMINANTS

Rice gruel is a rich source of starch but a poor source of other nutrients especially nitrogen. Starch on fermentation in the rumen can be effectively used in the presence of nitrogen. At the same time feeding nitrogenous compounds without energy-rich diets can lead to an increase in the rumen ammonia concentration resulting in toxicity. Therefore feeding gruel with nitrogenous compounds is a better practice. Further it would rather be economical to supplement NPN compounds viz. urea diammonium phosphate as a source of ‘N’ to rice gruel.