The effect of different levels Common reed silage treated with molasses in feeding of buffalo male calves

This experiment carried out to evaluete effect of substitution of Common Reed silage (with addition of molasses) as a fib er source in feeding of fattening buffalo male calves. Twenty five buffalo male calves with about 15 months age and average live weight of 259 kg :f: 11 were used in a Complete Randomized Design with 5 experimental groups and 5 replications per group during 3 months. The rat.ions were included as 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 percent of common reed silage which replaced with mixture of alfalfa hay and wheat straw. The calves fed with isocalri and isonitrogenus ration for 3 months and DM intake and Average Daily gain were recorded. DM digestibility was determined by AlA method, as well. Results of this experiment indicated that the means of daily dry matter intake of different experimental groups 1,2,3,4 and 5 were: 7.63, 7.03, 7.17, 6.25 and 5.59 kg, means of daily weight gains were: 0.89, 0.77, 0.77, 0.68, 0.56 kg, means of final weight were: 348.60,327.80,330.80,318.00 and 300.25 kg and differences between Gl, G2 and G3 were not significant (PO.OI). But significant differences observed between G 1 with G4 or G5 the calves of G2 and G3 with G5 had significat differences too (PO.OI). The means of feed conversion of different experimental groups were: 8.56, 9.17, 9.50, 9.43 and 10.11, respectively with total average of 9.32 and no significant differences observed between experimental groups (PO.OI). The means of cost per kilogram live weight in different experimetal groups were: 7431, 7518, 7334, 6854 and 6875 Rials, respectively. The means of dry matter digestibility in different experimental groups were: 69.45, 68.17, 67.50, 62.80 and 62.11 percentage with total average 66.17 percentage, and no significant differences observed between Gl, G2 and G3 (PO.OI). But significant differences observed between Gl, G2 and G3 with G4 or G5 (PO.OI). It is concluded that Common Reed silage with addition of molasses could be substituted with 50 percent of forage segment of ration in feeding of fattening buffalo male calves.