Nutritional Evaluation of Steam Treated Bagasse Based Complete Diets in Crossbred Calves

Complete diets consisting 60% each of chopped paddy straw (CD₁) untreated (CD₂) and steam (2kg/Cm² for 60min.) treated (CD₃) bagasse, respectively, along with 40% concentrate mixture were fed ad lib. to 4 crossbred calves in each of the 3 groups alongwith 1 kg nonleguminous fodder for 4 wks followed by a metabolism trial. Palatablility of untreated and treated bagasse was similar but lower than paddy straw as evident from significantly lower (P<0.05) DMI/100kg body weight in CD₃ (1.43 kg) and CD₂ (1.27 kg) than in CD₁ (2.94 kg). The digestibilities of DM, CF, NFE and cellulose were significantly (P<0.05) Sower in group fed CD₃ than in CD₂. The CF digestibility and N balance were significantly (P<0.05) higher iti group CD₁ than in CD₂ or CD₃. It was concluded that steam treatment of bagasse at low pressure did not prove advantageous.