Department of Animal Nutrition, Birsa Aaricultural University, Ranchi-834007, India
*Present Address : Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubaneswar-751002, India.
Online published on 5 January, 2012.
Eighteen Hoistein-Friesian x local male calves (9-14 m) were randomly divided into 3 treatment groups and fed unconventional teed ingredients mixture (UFIM) which replaced, standard concentrate mixture (CM) at 0 (T1), 15 (T2) and 30 (T3) %, respectively. Two kg seasonal green fodder and chaffed paddy straw was also tedad lib. to each animal in a 210 d growth trial. The average daily gains were 4"4.76± 6.44, 400.79± 15.35 and 389.68± 15.00 g in weight T1, T2 and T3, respectively. The feed : gain ratio in corresponding groups were 13.00 : 1; 13.20: 1 and 13.42:1 and the differences among the groups were not significant. The cost (Rs)/Kg weight gain was 17.22, 16.37 and 15.56 in three, respective treatment groups. It may thus be inferred that feeding of UFFM to the extent of 30% in the concentrate mixture of growing calves is economical.
