Performance of crossbred female calves fed different ratios of green berseem and barley straw
2009
Mahanta, S K
A study was conducted on growing female calves, fed a mixed ration of green berseem (JHB_146, a new variety) and barley straw with limited supplementation of wheat bran (0.3% of live weight) to record their nutritional and growth performances. Three different combinations of barley straw and green berseem were 50:50, 30:70 and 15:85 (on dry matter basis) fed to the animals of G1, G2 and G3 groups, respectively. Average daily DM intake was 2.47, 2.38 and 2.29% of live weight in calves of G1, G2 and G3 groups, respectively, and the differences were nonsignificant. The digestibility of DM, OM, EE and cellulose were also comparable among the groups ranging from 58.3 to 60.7, 60.1 to 62.1, 46.7 to 48.6 and 53.7 to 59.2%, respectively. However, the digestibility of NDF and ADF was lower and CP was higher in calves of G3 group than G1 group. Average daily CP and DCP intakes were low in G1 group than in both G2 and G3 groups. However, average TDN intakes were comparable among the groups. Live weight gain was higher in calves of those two groups when compared to G1 group. Variation in green berseem to barley straw ratio had no influence on the blood biochemical constituents. Thus the feed intake and nutrient utilization were better and calves sustained around 500 g ADG when fed barley straw and JHB_ 146 variety of green berseem in 30: 70 ratio.
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