Topics:
Animal Nutrition, Animal Refresher
Protein Digestibility of Paddy Straw
The protein digestibility of Paddy straw is approximate:
- 0.0%
- 0.2% — Correct Answer
- 0.5%
- 2.0%
Explanation:
Correct Answer: 0.2%
The protein digestibility (DCP%) of paddy straw is approximately 0.2% — essentially negligible. Paddy straw is even poorer in digestible protein than wheat straw (which has 0% DCP) due to its extremely high silica and lignin content.
Straw Quality Comparison
| Feed | DCP % | CP % | TDN % | Digestibility % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheat straw | 0% | 3–4% | 40% | 46% |
| Paddy straw | ~0.2% | ~3–5% | ~40% | Low |
| Urea-treated straw | 4–5% | Increased | 50% | 70% |
Why Paddy Straw Has Such Low DCP
- Very high silica content (silica constitutes a major part of rice straw)
- High lignification → protein is physically trapped and unavailable for digestion
- Low inherent protein content — most is structurally bound
Why Other Options Are Wrong
- 0.0% → wheat straw DCP; paddy straw has a slightly higher value (~0.2%)
- 0.5% → overestimates paddy straw DCP; closer to the value for better straws
- 2.0% → too high for paddy straw; this is more typical of cereal hays
📚 About this Topic — Animal Nutrition
This multiple choice question is from Animal Nutrition, Animal Refresher. It has 4 options with a detailed explanation of the correct answer. Practice more MCQs from Animal Nutrition to strengthen your preparation.
