Growth performance, nutrient digestibility and semen production in Pandharpuri buffalo bulls fed sprouted finger millet (Eleucine coracana) grain
2012
Fernandes, A.P. | Wagh, A.J. | Kamble, D.K.
Twelve Pandharpuri buffalo bulls were divided into two groups and fed for a period of 180d to assess the effect of dietary replacement of maize grain with finger millet. In treatment group, maize of the control group was replaced with 30 parts of sprouted finger millet grains. Animals were fed required quantity of maize as green and sorghum straw as dry fodder. The ADG was 432 and 440g in control and treatment group, respectively, with no (P0.05) difference. Dry matter intake as well as intake of CP, DCP and TDN remained similar between the two groups. Significant (P0.05) difference was observed in DM, EE and CF digestibility with values 54.68, 63.04 and 53.83%, and 53.24, 61.13 and 52.22% in treatment and control groups, respectively. The digestibility of CP (54.72 and 55.16%) and NFE (62.18 and 62.72%) however were similar for treatment and control groups, respectively. Semen was collected twice a week in the morning and the volume was 2.28 and 2.98 ml per ejaculation with mass activity 1.77 and 2.29 in control and treatment groups, respectively which shown significant (P0.05) difference. Better quality of semen in the treatment group was further reflected by high percent (60.67 vs. 53.30%) of creamy ejaculation. The study conducted inferred that sprouted finger millet can replace 75% of maize without any adverse effect on feed intake and weight gain and with added advantage of better digestibility and semen quality in buffalo bulls.
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