Nutrient Utilization in Crossbred Dairy Cows Under Economical Feeding Regime

Seven crossbred (Holstein Friesian x Hariana) cows were divided into two groups having 4 and 3 animals in group I and II, respectively. Croup I was offered a standard concentrate mixture with maize fodder and wheat straw, whereas in group II, and economical concentrate mixture was offered alongwith maize fodder and molasses. The DM intake was 1)4.40±7.58 and 111.20±4.94 g/kgW^0.75 in groups I and II, respectively. DM, EE and NFE digestibilities were significantly (P<0.05) higher and that of CP was lower in group II than in group I. The DCP and TUN intakes were 7.94±0.35, 8.09±0.10 and 59.73±3.56, 58.63±1.25 g/kgW^0.75 in groups I and II, respectively, which were non-significantly different. Animals of both the groups showed positive N-balance. The GE, DE and ME intakes and heat production per unit metabolic body size were non-significantly different, whereas the methane production was significantly (P<0.05) lower in group II. Energy balance was 81.30±18.17 and 76.26±15.49 kcal/kg W^0.75/d in groups I and II, respectively. Average inilk yield in terms of FCM was 5.55±0.56 and 7.20±0.68 kg/d in group I and II, respectively.