Effect of Chelated Minerals Supplementation on Growth Performance of Crossbred Calves

Six crossbred calves having the 9 to14 months of age were selected and randomly divided into three groups, of two in each group on the basis of body weight (98 to 121 kg). The one calf from each group which served as treatment group (T₁) was fed with concentrate mixture, roughages (green jowar, soybean straw ad lib.) and mineral mixture, likewise another one calf from each group received chelated mineral in treatment group (T₂). The experimental period consist of 56 days. At the time of switch over of treatment to the other, a period of 10 days was considered as an adjustment period. Daily record of feed offered and water intake was maintained. The calves were weighed weekly. The feed samples were analyzed for proximate principles according to AOAC (1990). The average total dry matter intake and the water intake not influenced significantly. The average daily body weight gain (kg/d) was 0.413 and 0.640 kg in treatment (T₁) and (T₂) respectively. Significantly more daily gain was observed in calves when they were fed with chelated mineral. The average gain in body measurement was higher in treatment (T₂) than the treatment (T₁). It indicated significant effect of chelated mineral supplementation on growth performance of crossbred calves. The total cost of feed per kg of live weight was Rs. 62.90 and Rs. 52.52 in treatment T₁ and T₂, respectively. It is finally concluded that feeding of chelated mineral to growing calves promoted efficient feed utilization, improved growth rate but the cost of raising young calves on chelated minerals supplementation was higher than the normal mineral mixture.