Effect of Feeding Soypulp on Nutrient Utilization and Growth in Crossbred Calves

Fifteen crossbred calves (6.8m, 113.2 kg b.wt.) were divided into three equal groups. Group I was fed concentrate and green Jowar fodder whereas, in group II and III, SO and 75% concentrate was replaced with soypulp on DM or 93 and 140% on CP basis. Mean DM intake over 127 d experimental period was 3.83 kg/d in groups I and increased by 10.4% in group II and unaffected in group III, whereas DMI per 100 kg b.wt. was similar in groups I and II and less (P<0.05) by 9.8% in group III. CP Intake per kg W^0.75 was 12.44 in group I and improved by 4.75 and 6.06 g/d in groups II and HI respectively. Similarly DCP intake per kg W^0.75 was also significantly (P<0.05) improved in later two groups. TDN intake per kg W^0.75 was 53.22 g in group I and increased (P<0.05) by 25.0 and 15.6% in groups II and III. Digestibility coefficients of CP EE NDF and hemicellulose were 23.0 29.4; 11.4 8.8; 8.2 21.4; 3.4 and 13.2% higher in group II and III than that in group I. Similarly nitrogen retention was significantly higher in groups II and III than in group I. Average daily body weight gains were 399.9 553.5 and 656.7 g/d over an experimental period of 127 d in group I, II and III respectively. The efficiency of feed conversion in corresponding groups was 9.92 7.36 and 5.76. The cost per kg. body weight gain was Rs. 28.38 12.96 and 7.40 in group I II and III respectively It was concluded that soynulp is highly nutritious feed and replace concentrate mixture upto 75% on DM basis in the diet of crossbred calves