The Potential of 'Magadi' In the Treatment of Poor Quality Roughages

Abstract

A study was carried out to determine the effect of chemical treatment of rice straw (Oryza sativa) on insacco % Dry Matter (DM) degradation using six rumen-fistulated cows. One kg of DM of straw was sprayed using  one litre of  either of  the  following  solutions;  50g  urea  (U), 40g sodium hydroxide (N),  250g “magadi” suspension (M), 25g urea and 250g  'magadi'  suspension (½ U + M), 20g  NaOH and 250g 'magadi' suspension (½ N + M). Solutions were made purposely to vary their pH, which would determine the degree of alkalinity/acidity of the solution. Untreated rice straw was used as control (C). The treated straws were placed in separate and tightly covered 20 litre plastic buckets for 14 days after which samples for DM determination were taken and the rest sun dried for 12 h. Subsequently, 500g of the sun-dried straws were ground by laboratory hammer mill to pass a 2.5 mm screen, of which 100g of each sample was used for the determination of chemical composition and for in vitro organic matter digestibility. Samples treated with the combination of 'magadi' and NaOH, 'magadi' and urea, and urea alone showed significantly (P<0.05) higher percentage degradation of DM compared to the control. The cost of the chemicals required to treat 1 kg DM of straws was cheaper with 'magadi' as compared to other chemical solutions used in the study. It is hereby concluded that treatment of poor quality roughage with 'magadi' alone and its combination with other sources of alkali improved percentage DM degradation in the rumen. 'Magadi',  which is locally available and cheap, can be used to replace industrial  chemicals in the treatment of poor quality  roughage  but  further  invivo study  would  be necessary to validate the effect of 'magadi'.