EVALUATION OF DENSIFIED COMPLETE FEED BLOCKS IN CROSSBRED CATTLE
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Date
2019
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College of Veterinary and animal Science,Mannuthy
Abstract
A feeding trial was conducted for a period of 90 days to assess the effect
of feeding densified complete feed blocks (DCFB) in crossbred cattle. Eighteen
healthy crossbred heifer calves of eight to twelve months of age were selected
from University Livestock Farm and Fodder Research and Development Scheme
(ULF&FRDS), Mannuthy. They were divided into three groups of six animals
each as uniformly as possible with regard to age, sex and body weight and were
randomly allotted to one of the three dietary treatments, T1 (Straw based DCFB),
T2 (DCFB incorporating 20 per cent Dhanvantharam oil residue) and T3 (DCFB
incorporating 20 per cent tapioca starch waste). The experimental design used was
RBD. All the experimental animals were fed as per standard specifications
(ICAR, 2013). The rations were made isonitrogenous and isocaloric. Data on
fortnightly body weight, average daily gain, daily dry matter (DM) intake, feed
efficiency, digestibility, haematological and biochemical parameters like
haemoglobin, total protein, serum calcium, serum phosphorus, serum glucose,
rumen fermentation parameters like rumen pH, volatile fatty acids and rumen
ammonia nitrogen and cost effectiveness of feeding DCFB were assessed.
The average daily gain of heifer calves maintained on dietary treatments
T1, T2 and T3 were 0.68 ± 0.03, 0.73 ± 0.08 and 0.66 ± 0.06 kg, respectively and
the total weight gain was 61.17 ± 3.14, 65.67 ± 6.78 and 59.30 ± 5.25 kg,
respectively and there was no significant difference (p>0.05) between the groups.
Average daily DMI of heifer calves maintained on dietary treatments T1, T2 and
T3 were 4.65 ± 0.25, 4.72 ± 0.46 and 4.56 ± 0.58, respectively and they were
similar among the groups. The per cent digestibility of nutrients in DCFB fed to
three treatments T1, T2 and T3 were 55.39 ± 2.39, 56.28 ± 2.71 and 57.93 ± 2.12
for DM, 58.03 ± 1.10, 58.37 ± 2.40 and 57.97 ± 2.18 for CP, 74.26 ± 1.59, 77.42
± 1.41 and 73.13 ± 2.08 for EE, 50.88 ± 2.39, 52.17 ± 2.88 and 56.87 ± 1.69 for
CF and 59.98 ± 2.76, 58.20 ± 3.01 and 62.20 ± 2.52 for NFE, respectively and
there was no significant difference (p>0.05) among the groups. The mean FCR of
experimental heifer calves maintained on dietary treatments T1, T2 and T3 were
7.03 ± 0.47, 6.73 ± 0.41 and 6.97 ± 0.38, respectively. The haematological and
biochemical parameters like haemoglobin, total protein, serum calcium, albumin
and globulin did not show any significant difference among the treatments except
for serum phosphorus and serum glucose but the values are within the normal
physiological range as reported for the species. Rumen fermentation parameters
like volatile fatty acids and rumen ammonia nitrogen did not show any significant
difference among the treatments. But the rumen pH was significantly higher in T1
and T3 groups compared to T2 at end of feeding trial. The feed cost per kg of
weight gain of heifer calves maintained on dietary treatments T1, T2 and T3 was
Rs.134.87, 103.80 and 127.25, respectively and the heifer calves maintained on
T2 recorded a least feed cost per kg of body weight gain as compared to heifer
calves fed on either T1 or T3 diet.
From the results of present study it can be concluded that complete feed
block containing unconventional feed ingredients like dhanvantharam oil residue
and tapioca starch waste can be included at 20 per cent level economically
without any adverse effect on growth and health status of crossbred heifer calves.
Cost effective DCFB can be prepared using dhanwanthram oil residue and tapioca
starch waste in place of conventional feed ingredients.