NUTRITIVE EVALUATION OF PALMYRA (Borassus flabellifer) SEEDHUSK AND SUGAR CANE (Saccharum officinarum) BAGASSE IN CROSSBRED CALVES
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Date
2018
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COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES-MANNUTHY,THRISSUR
Abstract
An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of 50 percent replacement
of green grass with Palmyra seed husk or sugar cane bagasse in complete feed on
growth in crossbred calves. Three complete rations having 70:30 concentrate:
roughage ratio, with grass (T1), 50 per cent replacement of grass with Palmyra seed
husk (T2) and 50 per cent replacement of grass with sugar cane bagasse (T3) on dry
matter basis, as roughage source were prepared and evaluated for their nutritive
value. Eighteen healthy female cross bred calves, six to seven months of age were
selected from ULF, Mannuthy as uniformly as possible with regard to age and
weight, and randomly allotted to three dietary treatments T1, T2 and T3 and fed with
respective experimental rations as per NRC (2001) for a period of 90 days. The
animals were fed twice daily and the balance of feed was collected for obtaining
daily dry matter intake. The record of daily feed intake and fortnightly bodyweight
of all the experimental animals were maintained throughout the experimental period.
At the end of the feeding trial a digestibility trial for five days was conducted by total
collection method. Feed, fodder and dung samples were analysed for proximate
principles (AOAC, 2012). Blood samples were collected from the experimental
animals at the beginning and end of the trial and was analysed for serum calcium,
serum phosphorus, glucose, blood urea nitrogen, serum total protein, albumin (using
standard kits) and haemoglobin (using blood analyser).
The bodyweight gain obtained was 43.40± 2.44, 36.78± 1.64, 42.38± 2.39 Kg
in 90 days period. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the fortnightly
body weight and average daily gain. Dry matter intake per Kg metabolic body
weight was significantly lower in T3 animals in all the fortnights compared to the T1
and T2. The feed conversion efficiency obtained were 4.87 ±0.18, 5.61 ±0.28 and
4.76 ±0.12 and was higher (P<0.01) for T1and T3. The digestibility trial revealed
that all the three treatments had similar dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent
fibre, acid detergent fibre digestibility (P>0.05) while the ether extract digestibility
was higher (P<0.01) for T3 than that of T1 andT2 ration. Cost of production when
calculated in terms of feed cost per kg body weight gain was lower for T3 and T2
than that of T1.
Hence, the study indicated that the calves could be raised on 50% replacement of
green grass with Palmyra seed husk or sugar cane bagasse with optimum weight
gain. However, the feed efficiency on 50% replacement of Palmyra was lower and
cost of feed/kg body weight gain was lowest in calves fed on sugar cane bagasse.