Effect of feeding by-pass protein with urea treated wheat straw on performance of crossbred (Holstein Friesian X Deoni) calves

An experiment was carried out to assess the effect of feeding concentrate mixtures varying in by-pass protein levels either with 4 per cent urea treated or untreated wheat straw on performance of twelve crossbred (Holstein Friesian x Deoni) calves (13.04±0.47 m; 130.4±2.3 kg) for a period of 90 days. Two iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous concentrate mixtures varying in RDP and UDP ratio of 65:35 (CM-I) and 55:45 (CM-II) were prepared. The calves in control group (C) were fed CM-I with ad-libitum untreated wheat straw and those in experimental group (T) were fed CM-II with ad libitum urea treated wheat straw. Average daily dry matter intake (kg), including that through roughage (P<0.01) was significantly (P<0.05) higher in group T as compared to group C. The average daily gain (ADG) was significantly higher (P<0.01) in group T (627.8 g) as compared to those in group C (388.2 g), accompanying a superior (P<0.05) feed efficiency (8.52 vs. 11.37 kg DMI/kg gain). The cost of ration per kg gain in body weight for calves in the two groups was Rs. 24.85 and 18. 36 respectively, indicating a net saving of Rs, 6.49 (25.91 per cent) per kg gain in body weight in T over C. The digestibility coefficients of DM, OM, CP, EE, CF and ADF (P<0.01) and NDF (P<0.05) were significantly higher for experimental ration T as compared to control ration C leading to better nutritive value in the former in terms of DCP (10.1 vs 7.1%) and TDN (63.3 vs 52.9%). The blood urea nitrogen concentration estimated at different intervals after feeding were significantly (P<0.01) lower in calves fed experimental ration T as compared to control ration C, at all intervals. Overall results indicated that in crossbred calves an optimum growth can be achieved by feeding 4 per cent urea treated wheat straw as a basal roughage supplemented with a concentrate mixture containing 20 per cent CP and 45 per cent UDP/by pass protein.