Effect of Using Forest Grass Based Complete Rations on Growth and Nutrient Utilization in Growing Crossbred Calves

Three mixed forest grass (Themeda quadrivalvis, Dichanthium aristatum and Dichanthium annulatum) based rations were evaluated in the diet of crossbred female calves. Eighteen crossbred female calves (body weight, 66.44±0.51 kg) were divided into three equal groups and fed in the form of conventional feeding system (mixed forest grass and concentrate mixture separately, T₁), total mixed ration (TMR, T₂) or pelleted ration (T₃) for a period of 45 days including a digestion trial of 7 days. DM, protein and energy intake as well as digestibility of OM, CF and NFE were higher (P<0.05) when ration was provided either pelleted or TMR form as compared to conventional feeding system. The improvement (P<0.05) in the digestibility of dry matter, crude protein and ether extract in pelleted form was higher (P<0.05) to that of TMR and the digestibility in TMR was also remained higher (P<0.05) to their conventional counterpart. Pelleting of ration also showed improvement (P<0.05) in the growth rate of crossbred calves as compared to calves fed either conventional or TMR diets. The cost of feeding/kg body weight gain remained comparable among the three groups. It may be concluded that pelleting is a practical method of densification and is useful for nutritional improvement of a diet.