Question

Arrange the following feed ingredients according to their crude protein content in ascending order:
(A) Wheat straw
(B) Maize stover
(C) Lucerne fodder
(D) Soybean meal
Choose the correct option from the answers given below:

• A. (A), (B), (C), (D)
• B. (B), (A), (C), (D)
• C. (B), (A), (D), (C)
• D. (C), (B), (D), (A)

Hint:

Straws and dry crop residues are always at the bottom of the protein scale (\(<4\%\)), green grass/non-legumes are in the middle (\(6-10\%\)), leguminous fodders are higher (\(15-20\%\)), and oilseed cakes/meals are the highest (\(>30\%\)).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Feeds and fodders are classified based on their nutrient composition, particularly dry matter, crude fiber, and crude protein (CP) content.
Evaluating the CP content of common feedstuffs helps in formulating balanced rations.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze the average crude protein (CP) content of each ingredient:
- (A) Wheat straw: This is a dry, fibrous crop residue. It is highly lignified and has a very low crude protein content, typically ranging between \(2\%\) to \(3\%\) on a dry matter basis. This is the lowest among the four.
- (B) Maize stover: This consists of the leaves and stalks of maize left over after harvesting the grain. It has slightly more protein than wheat straw, averaging \(5\%\) to \(6\%\) CP.
- (C) Lucerne fodder (Alfalfa): This is a high-quality leguminous green fodder. Legumes are known for their nitrogen-fixing capabilities and have a high protein content, typically ranging from \(15\%\) to \(20\%\) CP depending on the stage of harvest.
- (D) Soybean meal: This is the residue left after oil extraction from soybeans. It is a premium protein concentrate used in livestock and poultry feeds, containing a very high crude protein level of \(44\%\) to \(48\%\).
Arranging these in ascending order of crude protein content gives: Wheat straw (lowest) \(\rightarrow\) Maize stover \(\rightarrow\) Lucerne fodder \(\rightarrow\) Soybean meal (highest).
This sequence is represented as (A), (B), (C), (D).

Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct ascending order is (A), (B), (C), (D), corresponding to Option (A).