Rumen Metabolic and Blood Biochemical Profile of Sahiwal Calves and Murrah Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Calves Fed Diet Containing De-oiled Sal (Shorea robusta) Seed Meal

The study was conducted on fifteen male Sahiwal and fifteen male Murrah buffalo calves of about 12 months age. They were divided into three equal groups of five calves of Sahiwal and five calves of Murrah buffalo in each. In both the cases the animals were fed three concentrate mixtures, T₁, T₂ and T₃. T₁ is control without deoiled sal seed meal (DSSM), while T₂ and T₃ with 35% and 70% DSSM respectively. The other ingredients of concentrate mixture comprised of maize, peanut cake, deoiled rice bran, mineral mixture, salt and vitamin premix (Rovimix). The concentrate mixture contained CP 17% and TDN 65%._. Green Para grass (Brachiara mutica) was offered ad libitum as roughage to all the animals. There was maximum degradation of diet at 4 h followed by 8 and 12 h in both the species. The total volatile fatty acids, total nitrogen, ammonia N and TCA precipitable N concentration in rumen liquor was significantly low due to feeding of 70% DSSM in buffalo calves. In sahiwal calves significantly lower concentration of total N, NH₃-N and TCA precipitable N was reported in T₂ and T₃ as compared to T₁. The activity of carboxy methyl cellulase and urease enzyme in the rumen liquor was higher in T₁ as compared to T₂ and T₃ although statistically non significant. Inclusion of DSSM to the levels 35% and 70% in the ration did not significantly alter the plasma protein, albumin, globulin, albumin: globulin ratio, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, AST, ALT and Alkaline phosphatase concentration in both the species. It is concluded that DSSM was better utilized in buffalo calves as compared to sahiwal calves.