Srinivas Kumar .D (MAJOR)Sudha Rani .KANANDA RAO .KHANUMANTHA RAO CHALAMALA2024-07-062024-07-062023-06https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810211519In a 90-day growth trial, 18 Murrah buffalo bull calves were randomly allotted to three dietary treatments (T1 to T3) comprising of Super Napier green fodder and concentrate mixture containing RDDGS at 0 (T1), 15 (T2) and 30 (T3) percent levels to meet the nutrient requirements (ICAR, 2013). All the three diets were evaluated for their effect on growth, nutrient utilization, serum biochemical profile in buffalo bull calves. The per cent DM, OM, CP, EE, CF, NFE, TA, NDF, ADF, hemi cellulose, cellulose, ADL, and silica of RDDGS were 94.08, 93.97, 48.33, 5.15, 4.91, 38.18, 6.03, 41.29, 21.12, 20.17, 8.01 and 4.87, respectively. The percent calcium and phosphorous content of RDDGS were 0.96 and 1.37, respectively. The study indicated that feeding diets containing RDDGS up to 30% level in the concentrate mixture had no effect (P>0.05) on body weight gains, ADG, feed conversion ratio in buffalo bull calves as compared to the control. The cost of feed / kg gain decreased (P<0.05) by 6.61 and 7.18 in T2 and T3, respectively as compared to T1. Feeding diets containing RDDGS up to 30% level in the concentrate mixture had no effect (P>0.05) on DM, OM, CP, EE, CF, NFE, NDF, ADF, cellulose and hemi-cellulose digestibility as compared to the control. The average DMI of buffalo bull calves expressed as kg/d or as % body weight was similar among the treatments. Inclusion of RDDGS up to 30% level in the concentrate mixture had no effect (P>0.05) on DCP and TDN contents expressed either as intake (kg/d) or as % in the diet consumed. The DM, DCP and TDN intakes expressed as g/kg W075 and ME intake (M Cal / kg W075) were similar among all the treatments and were higher than the values recommended by ICAR (2013) standards. The study revealed that feeding diets containing RDDGS at 15 and 30% level replacing soybean and gingelly cake at 50 and 100% level in the concentrate mixture had no effect (P>0.05) on serum biochemical profile in buffalo bull calves as compared to the control. Thus, it can be concluded that RDDGS can be included up to 30% level replacing conventional protein supplements up to 100% level in the concentrate mixture for feeding buffalo bull calves to decrease the cost of feeding without any adverse effects.EnglishThesis