Effect of Dietary Energy Level of Frieswal Bull Calves on Their Growth and Nutrient Utilization

Twelve male Frieswal (Holstein Friesian x Sahiwal) bull calves of 8–9 months age with an average body weight of 197 kg were divided into 3 groups of 4 each. Group-I was fed as per NRC recommendation and group II diet contained 20% higher energy than in group-I. Group-Ill was fed mainly on roughage based diet as per feeding schedule developed at Military Farm, Meerut. A digestion trial on all the animals was conducted after feeding them for about 4 months. The DM intake was 93.81±6.76, 105.31±4.39 and 89.04±0.54 g/kg W^0.75/day in group I, II and III, respectively. Digestibility coefficients of various proximate principles did not differ significantly (P>0.05), except that for EE and NDF. The CP and TDN intake/kg W^0.75 was 11.17, 63.01, 12.39 and 72.98, 10.09, 59.89 g in groups I II and III, respectively. Average growth rate per day during an experimental period of 330 days in corresponding groups was 679, 690 and 495 g and it was significantly (P<0.05) less in group III. It can be concluded that the recommended nutrition level of NRC (100% protein and 100% energy) was optimum for the growth of Frieswal calves.