Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar-751 003, India
*Reprint request: Dr. B.K. Sahu, Tel: +91-674-2560117; Fax: +91-674-2390732; E-mail: bksahu@yahoo.com
An on-farm trial was conducted on 12 pairs of indigenous bullocks (5.9±0.1 years; 303±8 kg BW) for a duration of 45d to assess the effects of supplementing de-oiled groundnut cake (DGNC) to a paddy straw ration on the nutrient utilization and work efficiency. The farmers were feeding rice bran, mixed grasses and ad libitum paddy straw to their bullocks. The bullocks were divided into two groups on body weight basis. Bullocks of group 1 were fed as per the prevailing feeding practices, but in group 2 the bullocks were supplemented @ 1 kg/d/head of DGNC in addition to the ration fed by the farmers. The animals were maintained by the farmers as per their management practices. After 30d of feeding, a digestibility trial was conducted by using chromic oxide as an external indicator. The DM intake (kg/100 kg BW) was significantly (P<0.01) higher in group 2 (2.43±0.01) than group 1 (2.26±0.03). The digestibility coefficient of DM, OM and CP was significantly (P<0.01) higher in group 2 than group 1. The respiration rate, heart rate, pulse rate and rectal temperature were significantly (P<0.01) lower after 4h of ploughing in group 2 than group 1. The walking speed and area ploughed per hour were significantly higher (P<0.01) in group 2 than group 1. The bullocks of group 2 exhibited less frothing after 4h of ploughing. The blood glucose and plasma urea concentrations were significantly higher (P<0.01), and the plasma lactate dehydrogenase concentration was significantly (P<0.01), lower in group 2 compared to group 1. Thus, supplementation of DGNC to a paddy straw ration has beneficial effect on nutrient utilization and work performance in bullocks.
Bullock, Nutrient utilization, Rumen degradable nitrogen, Supplementation, Work
