Department of Animal Nutrition, Gujarat Agricultural University, Anand, 388 110, India
Online published on 29 December, 2011.
A feeding experiment of 210 d duration was conducted to evaluate inclusion of subabul seeds in concentrate mixtures (0, 7.5 and 15% levels) fed to 18 lactating crossbred cows, divided into 3 groups (T1, T2, & T3,) with 6 animals in each. Concentrate mixtures were offered to meet the DCP requirements, 5 kg green ‘NB 21’ grass was offered to meet Vitamin A requirement and mature pasture grass formed the basal fodder. Throughout the experiment, the cows maintained good health and were free from any reproductive disorders. Dry matter and nutrients intake, digestibilities of nutrtent and balances of N, P and Ca were not affected due to different breatments. Similarly, rumen pH, total volatile fatty acids content and concentration of total-N fractions in SRL of experimental cows were unaffected. However, ammonia-N was significantly higher (P<0.0l) in groap T3 Cost of feeding was similar under the tlree feeding regimes. Thus, subabut seeds provide an alternate protein source in the rations of lactation; cows.
