Revista de Ciencias Animales y Producción Ganadera Acceso abierto

Abstracto

Metabolic Studies of Crossbred Calves Kept under Buffer Feed Technology.

Awadhesh Kishore1*, Prakash Chandra1, Bani Singh1

Present investigation is an effort to study the effect of manipulation of rumen fermentation using buffers (buffer feed technology) in crossbred calves on metabolism of the of the animals. Twelve crossbred calves (131-221d, 57.5-93.9 kg were selected and divided into three groups. One animal from each group was randomly allotted to one of the four treatments T1, T2, T3 and T4. They were kept on green grass mixture, wheat straw and concentrate as per NRC feeding standard. Concentrate included barley grain and mustard cake. Buffer in the form of sodium bicarbonate and magnesium oxide in combination at the rate of 0.00 and 0.00, 0.50 and 0.25, 1.00 and 0.50 and 1.50 and 0.75% of assumed DMI to be 4% of LW or 0.00 and 0.00, 0.02 and 0.01, 0.04 and 0.02 and 0.06 and 0.03% of LW were given T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively. After 21 days of adaptation, a metabolic trial for 7 days was conducted. The samples of feed, refusals, faeces and urine were chemically analyzed. The data recorded were analyzed statistically. The animals in T3 and T4 were died during experiment due to acute bloat and severe diarrhea. Intake of DDM, CP, DCP and DE were highest in T3. Metabolizability of N and energy was lowest in T1. Intake of metabolizable CP and calories were highest in T3, M:D ratio for calcium in T1 and CP and calories in T3. Overall conclusion of the study revealed that the buffer feed technology in calve nutrition increased proteins, fibre and decreased calcium utilization.