Effect of feeding bypass protein with urea treated sorghum straw on performance of crossbred (Jersey x Red Kandhari) calves

Twelve crossbred (Jersey x Red Kandhari) calves (19.1±0.86 months of age and 88.4±1.03 kg body weight) were used in an experiment to assess the effect of feeding concentrate mixtures varying in RDP to UDP levels either with 4% urea treated or untreated sorghum straw for a period of 90 days. Two isocaloric and isonitrogenous balanced concentrate mixtures (CM-I and CM-II) varying in RDP to UDP ratio viz., 65:35 and 55:45 were compounded. The calves in control group C were fed CM-I with ad libitum untreated sorghum straw while those in experimental group T were fed CM-II with ad libitum urea treated sorghum straw. Daily dry matter consumption (kg) was significantly (P<0.01) higher in group T as compared to group C. The average daily gain (g) of calves in group T (382.21) was significantly (P<0.01) higher as compared to those in control (237.77) with a better (P<0.01) feed efficiency 9.50 vs 11.79/kg per unit gain. The digestibility coefficients and nutritive value (DCP, TDN). CP, EE, CF, NDF, ADF and NFE), were significantly higher for T than C. The blood urea nitrogen concentration (mg/dl) at various post feeding intervals were significantly lower (P<0.01) in calves fed ration T. Results indicate that an optimum growth rate can be economically achieved in crossbred calves by feeding 4% urea treated sorghum straw as a basal roughage supplemented with a concentrate mixture containing 20% CP, 70% TDN and 45% UDP.