ECONOMICAL FEEDING OF GROWING CROSSSBRED CALVES USING COMPLETE FEEDS BASED ON AGRICULTURAL BY-PRODUCTS AND NON - CONVENTIONAL FEEDS
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Date
1999
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AAU, Anand
Abstract
A of growth experiment of 40 weeks duration was carried out on eighteen crossbred (J x K and HF x K) calves to study the feasibility of utilization of complete feeds as ration of growing calves. The three treatments were T1: conventional complete feed with 30 % wheat straw as basal roughage and 70 % conventional concentrate ingredients , T2 : Nonconventional complete feed with 30 % sugarcane bagasse as basal roughage and nonconventional feed ingredients viz, Prosopis juliflora pods, managed kernel, Babul seeds chuni, corn steep liquor and T3: control- representing conventional system of feeding concentrates and roughage separately. Completely randomized design was followed. The calves under T1 and T2 were fed respective complete feeds ad lib. Where as the calves under T3 were offered concentrate mixture to meet Itheir DCP requirement as per ICAR (1985) standards and ad lib. wheat straw. Two kg 'NB-21 fodder was provided daily to ail the calves to meet their vit. A requirement. The complete feeds were prepared in complete feed plant using 8 mm screen. The values for modules of uniformity were 2:4:2 for distribution of corse: medium: fine particles in both the complete feeds. The complete feeds T1 and T2 contained 12.74 % 12.14 % DCP and 55.71 % and 58.63 % TDN, respectively. The results revealed non significant treatment differences for total and average daily weight gain and various body measurement. The average gain in weight was 418, 476 and 473 g, respectively in T1, T2 and T3. The dry matter intake kg per day per animal, per 100 kg body weight and g per kg metabolic body weight were at par in all the treatment indicating that both the complete feeds were palatable to calves and they consumed sufficient complete feeds. The daily intake of CP and DCP in both,, the complete feeds (T1 and T2) were similar to that of control (T3). But TDN intake was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T3 than T1 and T2- The digestibility coefficients of nutrients were within the normal range in all the treatment groups with non significant treatment differences for digestibility of DM, ether extract and CF. However, digestibility coefficient of CP was significantly higher (P<0.01) in T3 than T2 but T1 and T2 were at par. Organic matter digestibility was higher (P<0.01) in T2 than T1 but T3 was at par with both the complete feeds. Digestibility coefficient of NFE was significantly (P<0.01) lower in T1 than T3 where as T2 was at par with T1 and T3. Balances of N, P and Ca were positive in all the treatments. The efficiency of feed utilization (DM intake per kg gain) was similar in all the groups but efficiency of protein utilization (DCP intake per kg gain) was significantly (P<0.01) higher in T2 than T1 and T3 and energy utilization (TDN intake per kg gain) was higher (P<0.01) in both complete feeds (T1 and T2) than control (T3). The results on plane of nutrition of calves revealed that the calves under all the treatment groups were on recommended (ICAR, 1985) plane of nutrition except 4.24 % and 3.20 % lower TDN intake than recommended levels in T1 and T2 respectively. Ruminal pH was within the normal range under all the three treatments. However, it was significantly (P<0.01) lower in T3 than T1 and T2. The TVFA content was significantly (P<0.01) higher in T3 (control) than T1 and T2. The SRL total nitrogen and protein nitrogen were at par in all the treatments but, NPN, soluble nitrogen and ammonia nitrogen content were significantly (P<0.01) higher in T3 (control) than T1 and T2. The economics of feeding showed 30.71 % and 36.90 % less feed cost per kg weight gain in T2 (nonconventional complete feed) than T3 (control) and T1 (conventional complete feed) respectively. Over all results suggested that both the complete feeds were quite palatable to the calves and can be fed to growing crossbred calves without any adverse effects. Complete feed based on agro industrial by products and non conventional feeds has further reduced the cost of feeding due to low feed cost. Long term studies are required to see the effect of complete feeds based on different roughage levels and particle size on growth performance and health of growing calves.
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ANIMAL NUTRITION, A STUDY