Feed Intake and Nutrient Utilization in Buffalo Heifers Fed Paddy Straw Based Complete Feeds

Eight buffalo heifers (3.0 yrs, 306.0 kg b.wt.) divided randomly into two groups, were fed on complete feeds. Complete f'eed-1 consisted of 37 parts 4% urea treated paddy straw, 3 parts green, 6 parts deoiled mustard cake, 41 parts deoiled rice bran, 10 parts molasses, 2 parts mineral mixture and 1 part of common salt. In complete feed-2, in place of deoiled mustard cake 7 parts of deoiled undecorticuted cotton seed cake plus 0.2 parts of urea were added and deoiled rice bran was reduced by 0.2 parts. After six week's feeding a metabolism trial was conducted. The DM intake in group 1 and 2 was 2.69±0.08 and 2.67±0.47 kg/100 kg body weight. The corresponding values for DM intake/kg W^0.75 were 113.16±7.39 and 111.52±13.53 g, respectively, showing no significant difference in them. Digestibility coefficients and balances of nutrients also did not differ significantly between groups indicating that any of the nitrogen sources under test can be incorporated in complete feed depending upon their price and availability.