PARNERKAR, SUBHASHHOSSAIN, SK. ASRAF2018-06-062018-06-062009http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810049443Eighteen growing Kankrej calves were selected from the farms of Animal Nutrition Research Department and Livestock Research Station, Anand Agricultural University, Anand and were individually fed for 15 days preliminary feeding and 140 days experimental period to meet their energy and protein requirement as per NRC (2001) standards. They were randomly divided into three groups and assigned to three dietary treatments (T1, T2 and T3) 6n age and body weight basis and were fed compound concentrate mixture formulated as per BIS Type II standard, mature pasture hay (Dicanthium annulatum) adlibitum and green fodder hybrid napier: NB-21 @ 2 kg/d. In addition, the calves under the group II (Treatment 2) and group III (Treatment 3) were given 5 g/d and 10 g/d commercial probiotics-Provisacc comprising of live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisae) 5x10 to power 9 cells cfu/g. The initial body weight in T1, T2 and T3 groups was 130.67 ± 17.08, 123.33 ± 16.91 and 126.33 ± 16.20 kg, respectively. The average total gain body weight in calves of T1, T2 and T3 groups during the entire experiment was 71.17 ± 2.43, 82.50 ± 2.00 and 83.83 ± 1.80 kg, respectively, and the average daily gain was 508.33 ± 17.34, 589.29 ± 14.26 and 598.81 ± 12.83 g m respective groups indicating significantly (P<0.05) higher gain in treatment T2 and T3 groups. Similarly, the gam in height of T2 and T3 calves was statistically (P<0.05) better than T1 group, but the groups did not differ with respect to gain in body length and heart girth. The average daily DMI of experimental calves in T1, T2 and T3 groups during digestion trial was 5.59 ± 0.41, 5.68 ± 0.34 and 5.60 ± 0.38 kg/day and when expressed as kg/lOOkg body wt. was 2.97 ± 0.06, 3.06 ± 0.10 and 3.09 ± 0.08 and the same in terms of g/kg w 0.75 was recorded as 109.66 ± 0.76, 112.56 ± 1.47 and 112.85 ± 1.23. The DM intake of experimental calves did not differ significantly (P>0.05). The average daily water intake (kg/head) was 17.05 ±1.81, 19.77 ± 1.57 and 18.09 ± 1.82 in groups T1, T2 and T3, respectively, which was statistically similar. The average digestibility coefficients of nutrients in T1, T2 and T3 groups for DM (55.86 ± 0.72, 57.99 ± 0.41 and 59.64 ± 0.92 %); OM (58.84 ± 0.69, 60.84 ± 0.38 and 62.99 ± 0.81 %); CP (57.89 ± 1.34, 62.41 ± 1.07 and 64.49 ± 1.00 %) and CF (52.51 ± 0.71, 55.05 ± 0.79 and 56.77 ± 1.04 %) were significantly (P<0.05) higher in treatment groups (T2 and T3) than the control (Ti), except those for EE (68.27 ± 1.33, 71.43 ± 0.97 and 71.70 ± 1.05 %) and NFE (62.92 ± 0.78, 64.12 ± 0.29 and 66.07 ± 1.21%) being statistically similar. The average DCP content of composite diets (6.16 ± 0.29, 6.58 ± 0.18 and 6.86 ± 0.21 %) were statistically similar, but the TDN content of the T3 group (57.95 ± 0.71 %) was significantly (P<0.05) higher than T1 (54.82 ± 0.62 %). However, calves fed T2 (56.64 ± 0.35 %) diets had an intermediate position. During the entire experimental period, the cumulative intakes (kg/head) of DM (681.64 ± 51.57, 695.35 ± 44.50 and 703.16 ± 48.01), CP (77.02 ± 3.72, 76.82 ± 3.65 and 77.56 ± 3.64 kg), DCP (44.43 ± 1.67, 47.86 ± 2.05 and 49.97 ± 2.28 kg) and that of TDN (372.62 ± 27.78, 392.90 ± 25.08 and 405.85 ± 27.71 kg) were statistically (P<0.05) similar in T1, T2 and T3 groups, respectively. The feed conversion efficiency of calves (kg/kg BWG) diuing experimental period in terms of CP (1.12 ± 0.05, 0.94 ± 0.04 and 0.94 ± 0.04) was better (P>0.05) in probiotics group (T2 and T3) as compared to control (T1). However, they did not differ with respect to DM (9.90 ± 0.67, 8.50 ± 0.53 and 8.45 ± 0.52), DCP (0.64 ± 0.04, 0.66 ± 0.03 and 0.64 ± 0.04) and TDN (5.42 ± 0.37, 4.81 ± 0.30 and 4.90 ± 0.30). Ruminal pH (6.48, 6.49 and 6.50), total nitrogen (85.63, 86.49 and 93.13 mg/dl) and non protein nitrogen (20.09, 22.83 and 23.74 mg/dl) was within the normal range under the T1, T2 and T3 groups, respectively, and did not differ significantly (P<0.05) from each others. However, ammonia nitrogen in the SRL (12.87, 11.41 and 10.95 mg/dl) was statistically (P<0.05) higher in T1 compared to T3 group and T2 group had an intermediate position. The total volatile fatty acids (16.13, 18.14 and 19.17 mmol/dl) were statistically (P<0.05) higher in T2 and T3 groups as compared to T1 group. The blood samples collected at the end of experimental feeding, showed serum profiles of total protem (5.92 ± 0.25, 6.40 ± 0.14 and 6.68 ±0.18 g/dl) and globulin (1.27 ± 0.18, 1.67 ± 0.19 and 2.02 ± 0.14 g/dl) significantly (P<0.05) higher in T3 group as compared to T1 group, whereas, the calves under T2 group had an intermediate position The three treatment groups did not differ significantly from each other with respect to serum albumin (4.65 ± 0.20, 4.73 ± 0.06 and 4.67 ± 0.08 g/dl). Similar was the trend for serum enzymes AST (96.67 ± 6.39, 94.67 ± 4.99 and 88.67 ± 3.87 U/L), ALT (37.83 ± 2.14, 40.00 ± 3.10 and 38.50 ± 3.49 U/L) and AKP (386.67 ± 40.25, 404.00 ± 14.33 and 404.33 ± 31.39U/L). The serum glucose (30.42 ± 3.14, 50.92 ± 4.84 and 36.83 ± 4.63 mg/dl) was statistically (P<0.05) higher in T2 compared to T1 group, whereas, the calves under T3 group had an intermediate position. The feed cost (Rs/head/d) was 26.23 ± 1.74, 27.97 ± 1.58 and 29.74 ± 1.65 and when worked out as Rs./kg gain it was 51.70 ± 3.08, 47.49 ± 2.57 and 49.60 ± 2.25 in control (T1) and probiotics fed groups (T2 and T3), respectively, and was found statistically (P<0.05) similar. The results indicated that inclusion of live yeast {Saccharomyces cerevisae) in 50:50 concentrate: roughage based ration of growing Kankrej calves resulted in better growth, improved rumen fermentation, digestibility of nutrients, nutrient utilization and feed conversion efficiency without any increment in the feed cost.enANIMAL NUTRITION, AGRICULTUREA STUDYThesis