*Division of Animal Nutrition, C.S.W.R.I, Avikanagar, Rajasthan, 304501.
**ARS, UAS, Nagamangala. Mandya, Karnataka
Department of Animal Nutrition, Veterinary College, University of Agricultural Sciences, Hebbal, Bangalore, 560 024, India
Online published on 29 December, 2011.
Twelve crossbred female calves (8m, 110kg), distributed randomly into two groups of 6 each. Group I was fed on concentrate mixture containing 20 per cent CP for 13 weeks. Group II received a concentrate mixture in which 15 parts of Alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) was incorporated. Digestibilities of CP (54.13%) and EE (76.41%) were considerably higher in group I than in group II. However, the digestibility of fibre (40%) was higher in group H than in groups I (33%). Positive balances for nitrogen and minerals were recorded in both the groups. It was concluded that the incorporation of 15 parts of Alligator weed in the ration of calves did not have any harmful affect on the health of the animals and the same contributed effectively to the nutrient make up of the ration.
